disparate

American  

[dis-per-it, dih-spar-] / ˈdɪs pər ɪt, dɪˈspær- /

adjective

1. distinct in kind; essentially different; dissimilar.

   disparate ideas.

   Synonyms:

   unlike, incommensurable, divergent, separate

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disparate British  

/ ˈdɪspərɪt /

adjective

1. utterly different or distinct in kind

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noun

1. (plural) unlike things or people

Other Word Forms

• disparately adverb
• disparateness noun
• nondisparate adjective
• nondisparately adverb
• nondisparateness noun

Etymology

Origin of disparate

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin disparātus “separated,” past participle of disparāre “to separate,” from dis- dis- ¹ + parāre “to make ready” ( pare )

Example Sentences

Those anchored in religion or heritage may find guidance in old customs, but the author and her family, like so many others, appear to have only shallow connections to disparate, disconnected notions.

From The Wall Street Journal

Fears of widespread disruption from artificial intelligence recently reached a tipping point, hitting stocks in industries as disparate as freight, insurance, asset management, healthcare, real estate and even biotechnology.

From MarketWatch

The film is about as disparate from the hit primetime soap as they come, with their overlap starting and ending with the fact that both are about teenagers.

From Salon

The small band sets out in icy February with tensions already evident between its disparate members.

From The Wall Street Journal

Those issues have stirred growing concern and anger in west Altadena, where residents — most of whom are still displaced — have continued to demand answers about the failed evacuation alerts and disparate resources, with little success.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• contrasting
• discordant
• dissimilar
• distinct
• divergent
• diverse
• various