different
Americanadjective
-
not alike in character or quality; distinct in nature; dissimilar.
The two brothers are very different even though they're identical twins.
-
not identical; separate or distinct.
When I asked for directions, three people gave me three different answers.
-
Different people told me the same story.
- Synonyms:
- miscellaneous, divers, sundry
-
not ordinary; unusual.
I know my new hat is a bit different, but I thought I'd try it out.
adjective
-
partly or completely unlike
-
not identical or the same; other
he always wears a different tie
-
out of the ordinary; unusual
Usage
Although it is frequently claimed that different should be followed only by from, not by than, in actual usage both words occur and have for at least 300 years. From is more common today in introducing a phrase, but than is also used: New York speech is different from (or than ) that of Chicago. Than is used to introduce a clause: The stream followed a different course than the map showed. In sentences of this type, from is sometimes used instead of than; when it is, more words are necessary: a different course from the one the map showed. Regardless of the sentence construction, both from and than are standard after different in all varieties of spoken and written American English. In British English to frequently follows different : The early illustrations are very different to the later ones. The use of different in the sense “unusual” is well established in all but the most formal American English: The décor in the new restaurant is really different.
The constructions different from , different to , and different than are all found in the works of writers of English during the past. Nowadays, however, the most widely acceptable preposition to use after different is from . Different to is common in British English, but is considered by some people to be incorrect, or less acceptable. Different than is a standard construction in American English, and has the advantage of conciseness when a clause or phrase follows, as in this result is only slightly different than in the US . As, however, this idiom is not regarded as totally acceptable in British usage, it is preferable either to use different from: this result is only slightly different from that obtained in the US or to rephrase the sentence: this result differs only slightly from that in the US
Other Word Forms
- differently adverb
- differentness noun
- undifferent adjective
Etymology
Origin of different
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin different- (stem of differēns ), present participle of differre “to scatter, disperse”; differ, -ent
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The social supermarket is different to a food bank because users register and then pay £5 per person to select up to 15 items from the range of goods on offer.
From BBC
The facilities I saw when I visited different academies were incredible, but I still don't feel like the balance with education is right.
From BBC
This means a different approach depending on where you are.
From BBC
Under the new CBA, the 20% revenue-sharing is tied to the league’s gross revenue, a significantly different number than the net revenue, which is calculated after all expenses are taken into account.
From Los Angeles Times
Despite the government's insistence its targets were part of an illicit and murderous network, residents tell a different story.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
