difference

[ dif-er-uhns, dif-ruhns ]

/ ˈdɪf ər əns, ˈdɪf rəns /

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See synonyms for: difference / differenced / differences / differencing on Thesaurus.com

noun

the state or relation of being different; dissimilarity: There is a great difference between the two.

an instance or point of unlikeness or dissimilarity: What accounts for the differences in their behavior?

a significant change in or effect on a situation: His tact makes a difference in the way people accept his suggestions.

a distinguishing characteristic; distinctive quality, feature, etc.: The difference in the two products is quality.

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

the act of distinguishing; discrimination; distinction.

a disagreement in opinion.

a dispute or quarrel.

Also called finite distance. Mathematics.

the amount by which one quantity is greater or less than another.
relative complement.
(of a function f) an expression of the form f(x + h) − f(x).

a differentia.

verb (used with object), dif·fer·enced, dif·fer·enc·ing.

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

to perceive the difference in or between; discriminate.

OTHER WORDS FOR difference

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

See synonyms for difference on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR difference

1 similarity, agreement.

See antonyms for difference on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about difference

split the difference,

to compromise, especially to make equal concessions.
to divide the remainder equally: Let's take half of the cake and let the three of them split the difference.

Origin of difference

1300–50; Middle English (<Anglo-French ) <Latin differentia, equivalent to different- carrying different ways (see different) + -ia-ia; see -ence

synonym study for difference

1. 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. 6. See distinction.

Words nearby difference

die with one's boots on, dif, diff, diffeomorphism, differ, difference, difference threshold, different, different as night and day, differentia, differentiable

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use difference in a sentence

While you can also make a slurry with flour, there are certain differences between the two starches that one must take into consideration.
Sauce, gravy or stew too thin? We’ve got 3 ways to fix that.|Aaron Hutcherson|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
These are generic industry terms that may sound good to include in your content but don’t necessarily make much of a difference.
A comprehensive guide on using Google Trends for keyword research|Aayush Gupta|February 12, 2021|Search Engine Watch
Then he talked about Florida and Michigan, and the differences between county authorities and phone lines and waitlists and lotteries and … it became obvious what his advantage was.
My mother and her friends couldn’t get coronavirus vaccine appointments, so they turned to a stranger for help. He’s 13.|Greg Harris|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
The disproportionate death toll exposed the deadly consequences of poverty, exploitative and dangerous labor conditions and false beliefs about biological difference.
Medical racism has shaped U.S. policies for centuries|Deirdre Owens|February 12, 2021|Washington Post

Two of her sons have neurodevelopmental differences and “wouldn’t know where to draw the line in public,” she explained.
Watching edgier TV with your kids during the pandemic? You’re not alone.|Bonnie Miller Rubin|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
Again, the difference can seem subtle and sound more like splitting hairs, but the difference is important.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
One difference was that Chen was herself wearing white gloves.
Funeral Protest Is Too Much for NYPD Union Boss|Michael Daly|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
That is a distinction with a sociological difference—for many, an uncomfortable one to consider.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
That is the difference between the protections embedded in our Bill of Rights and the lived lives of our citizenry.
What Would Happen if I Got in White Cop’s Face?|Goldie Taylor|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But this may be a distinction without much of a difference—especially since Scalise admitted speaking before EURO.
GOP Boss Gets Help From ‘White Hate’ Pal|Tim Mak|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Is the Bible revelation so clear and explicit that no difference of opinion as to its meaning is possible?
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
We accepted the offer, so that they might see the difference between Christianity and their ungodliness.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
And hence the reader can notice the fundamental difference between all other methods and mine.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
The first two figures of the first group are 38, and the first two figures of the second group are 40—a difference of 2.
Assimilative Memory|Marcus Dwight Larrowe (AKA Prof. A. Loisette)
We were much alike in our tastes and habits, yet there was enough of difference between us to impart a relish to our friendship.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow

British Dictionary definitions for difference

difference

/ (ˈdɪfərəns, ˈdɪfrəns) /

noun

the state or quality of being unlike

a specific instance of being unlike

a distinguishing mark or feature

a significant change in a situationthe difference in her is amazing

a disagreement or argumenthe had a difference with his wife

a degree of distinctness, as between two people or things

the result of the subtraction of one number, quantity, etc, from another
the single number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend; remainder

logic another name for differentia

maths (of two sets)

the set of members of the first that are not members of the secondSymbol: A – B
symmetric difference the set of members of one but not both of the given setsOften symbolized: A + B

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

make a difference

to have an effect
to treat differently

split the difference

to settle a dispute by a compromise
to divide a remainder equally

with a difference with some peculiarly distinguishing quality, good or bad

verb (tr)

rare to distinguish

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with difference

difference

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

difference

OTHER WORDS FOR difference

OPPOSITES FOR difference

Idioms about difference

Origin of difference

synonym study for difference

Words nearby difference

Words related to difference

How to use difference in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for difference

Other Idioms and Phrases with difference