diverse
Americanadjective
-
of a different kind, form, character, etc.; unlike.
a wide range of diverse opinions.
-
of various kinds or forms; multiform.
- Synonyms:
- disparate, dissimilar
-
including representatives from more than one social, cultural, or economic group, especially members of ethnic or religious minority groups.
a diverse student body.
adjective
-
having variety; assorted
-
distinct in kind
Usage
What are other ways to say diverse?
The adjective diverse describes things that are different in kind, form, or character. How does diverse compare to synonyms various, distinct, and different? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of diverse
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Latin dīversus (past participle of dīvertere “to divert ”), equivalent to dī- di- 2 + vert- (base of vertere “to turn”) + -tus, past participle suffix, with -tt- regularly becoming -s-
Explanation
A diverse group is made up of people or things that are very different from each other. If your class mixes kids from all over the world, you could call it diverse. The adjective diversified has the same meaning, and a near synonym is varied. An earlier spelling of the English adjective was divers, and the final –e was probably added by association with words such as traverse and converse. The word divers is still in use in the sense "more than one, several, various:" divers methods and styles.
Vocabulary lists containing diverse
100 SAT Words Beginning with "D"
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"Of Plymouth Plantation," Vocabulary from the historical account
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"The Odyssey," Vocabulary from Part 1 of the epic poem
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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.
Here, punk bands truly espoused the music’s DIY ethos, and were more culturally diverse.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
This debate over race mirrors earlier controversies surrounding Halle Bailey starring in “The Little Mermaid” and other diverse casting choices in fantasy and literary adaptations.
From Salon • May 16, 2026
While stage designs vary in boldness, songs range from pop to heavy rock and electro and are performed in diverse languages from Maltese to Albanian.
From Barron's • May 16, 2026
"The notion of Aboriginality is like comparing a white person and saying every white person is affected. We are far more diverse than that, we are far more complex than that."
From BBC • May 15, 2026
These paradoxes hint that China too was once diverse, as all other populous nations still are.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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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.