difference

American  

[dif-er-uhns, dif-ruhns] / ˈdɪf ər əns, ˈdɪf rəns /

noun

• differences
  plural

1. the state or relation of being different; dissimilarity.

   There is a great difference between the two.

   Synonyms:

   contrariety, contrast, divergence, inequality, imbalance, diversity, variation, inconsistency

   Antonyms:

   agreement, similarity

2. an instance or point of unlikeness or dissimilarity.

   What accounts for the differences in their behavior?

3. a significant change in or effect on a situation.

   His tact makes a difference in the way people accept his suggestions.

4. a distinguishing characteristic; distinctive quality, feature, etc..

   The difference in the two products is quality.

5. the degree to which one person or thing differs from another.

6. the act of distinguishing; discrimination; distinction.

7. a disagreement in opinion.

8. a dispute or quarrel.

9. Also called finite distance.  Mathematics.

   1. the amount by which one quantity is greater or less than another.

   2. relative complement.

   3. (of a functionf ) an expression of the form f (x +h ) − f (x ).

10. a differentia.

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verb (used with object)

differenced, differencing

1. to cause or constitute a difference in or between; make different.

2. to perceive the difference in or between; discriminate.

idioms

1. split the difference,

   1. to compromise, especially to make equal concessions.

   2. to divide the remainder equally.

      Let's take half of the cake and let the three of them split the difference.

difference British  

/ ˈdɪfrəns, ˈdɪfərəns /

noun

1. the state or quality of being unlike

2. a specific instance of being unlike

3. a distinguishing mark or feature

4. a significant change in a situation

   the difference in her is amazing

5. a disagreement or argument

   he had a difference with his wife

6. a degree of distinctness, as between two people or things

7. 1. the result of the subtraction of one number, quantity, etc, from another

   2. the single number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend; remainder

8. logic another name for differentia

9. maths

   1.  A – B.  the set of members of the first that are not members of the second

   2. Often symbolized: A + B.  the set of members of one but not both of the given sets

10. heraldry an addition to the arms of a family to represent a younger branch

11. 1. to have an effect

    2. to treat differently

12. 1. to settle a dispute by a compromise

    2. to divide a remainder equally

13. with some peculiarly distinguishing quality, good or bad

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verb

1. rare to distinguish

2. heraldry to add a charge to (arms) to differentiate a branch of a family

difference More Idioms  

1. see make a difference; split the difference. Also see under different.

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Synonym Usage

Difference, discrepancy, disparity, dissimilarity imply perceivable unlikeness, variation, or diversity. Difference refers to a lack of identity or a degree of unlikeness: a difference of opinion; a difference of six inches. Discrepancy usually refers to an inconsistency between things that should agree, balance, or harmonize: a discrepancy between the statements of two witnesses. Disparity implies inequality, often where a greater equality might reasonably be expected: a great disparity between the ages of husband and wife. Dissimilarity indicates an essential lack of resemblance between things in some respect comparable: a dissimilarity between social customs in Asia and America. See distinction.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• differences
  plural

Etymology

Origin of difference

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin differentia, equivalent to different- “scattering, dispersing” ( see different ( def. )) + -ia -ia ( def. ); see -ence ( def. )

Explanation

Difference is a word for things that are not the same. Identical twins have few if any differences in appearance. If you dye your hair green, everyone is going to notice a huge difference. People often have differences of opinion. No two people are alike, so there are all kinds of differences between individuals. In math, a difference is the remainder left after subtracting one number from another. Chimps and gorillas are both apes, but there are a lot of differences between them. If something doesn't really change an outcome, you can say, "It makes no difference."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

difference differences differenced differencing

But there is one crucial difference -- it breaks down completely within nine months unlike traditional balloons, Cumming said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026

Clancy lacked control and was likely unable to tell the difference between right and wrong on that January 2023 day, he told the jury on Friday.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

The approach relies on the enormous difference between the speeds of light and sound.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026

“Small actions like these can make a big difference in preventing illness,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

The only difference was that I was going to be doing all of this tethered to Regan.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

When the researchers compared the fossil with crinoids living today, they found notable differences in anatomy.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 21, 2026

His six children have struggled to overcome their differences after his death.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Overall though, Sir Simon says: "I'm not taking sides. I think the answer is to get both sides round the table. A lot of what seem to be irreconcilable differences are actually reconcilable."

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

The pair -- dubbed "the heir and the spare" from an early age -- have failed to put aside their differences, despite their father King Charles III's cancer diagnosis.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

“As you become U.S. citizens, don’t lose who you are. Our differences are what make America great.”

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

When you are dead, and stand to me Not differenced, as now, But like again, will you be cold As when we lived, or how?

From Washington Post ● Jan. 27, 2016

If a second map of the exact same area is acquired when there is no snow, the two surfaces can be differenced to produce a snow depth map.

From Scientific American ● Apr. 10, 2012

"David is a point of differenced player and we are looking forward to him making an impact at the breakdown," the Australia forwards coach, Jim Williams, said.

From The Guardian ● Jul. 23, 2010

The echo of the Karstark sunburst was there for those who cared to look, but differenced to make the arms appropriate for House Thenn.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

In all such cases as these, the Arms were not the paternal coat in any way differenced, but what now would be designated “fresh grants.”

From The Handbook to English Heraldry by R. B. Utting

By differencing the NH and SH they magnify the effect. 

From New York Times ● Sep. 22, 2010

An interesting example of early differencing is cited by Sir Harris Nicolas, in his ‘Roll of Carlaverok.’

From The Curiosities of Heraldry by Mark Antony Lower

This is the earliest specimen of differencing I have met with.

From The Curiosities of Heraldry by Mark Antony Lower

Sir Edmund Mauley in the 14th century is found differencing the black bend of his elder brother by charging it with three wyvers of silver.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 3 "Helmont, Jean" to "Hernosand" by Various

Rules of general enunciation made false in the applying, by the inability of perceiving in the instance the differencing conditions which qualify the rule, or suspend it.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 57, No. 353, March 1845 by Various

Related Words

• change
• characteristic
• contrast
• discrepancy
• disparity
• distinction
• divergence
• diversity
• inequality
• variation