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"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Of Plymouth Plantation," Vocabulary from the historical account
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Odyssey," Vocabulary from Part 1 of the epic poem
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
"We think we know what Italy is," Tucci tells me, "but it's incredibly complex and diverse."
From BBC • May 9, 2026
“Brochures often picture these places as being much more diverse than their clientele is,” he said.
From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026
Protists are difficult to define neatly because they are so diverse.
From Science Daily • May 7, 2026
And the company has a diverse customer base—from electronics to manufacturing and metals to food and healthcare.
From Barron's • May 5, 2026
Yet their stone tools were still crude by comparison with modern New Guineans’ polished stone axes and were usually not yet made in standardized diverse shapes, each with a clearly recognizable function.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
