diversity

American  

[dih-vur-si-tee, dahy-] / dɪˈvɜr sɪ ti, daɪ- /

noun

• diversities
  plural

1. the state or fact of being diverse; difference; unlikeness.

   diversity of opinion.

   Antonyms:

   similarity, sameness, resemblance

2. variety; multiformity.

   Synonyms:

   multiplicity, heterogeneity, assortment, variation, dissimilarity, disagreement, contrast

   Antonyms:

   homogeneity

3. 1. the spectrum of individual differences and the corresponding group memberships and identities that human beings have in society.

      A functioning multicultural society celebrates the diversity of its people, but diversity can also be problematic for the maintenance of a cohesive national identity.

   2. the inclusion of individuals representing more than one national origin, color, religion, socioeconomic stratum, sexual orientation, etc..

      an initiative to increase diversity in the workplace.

4. a point of difference.

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diversity British  

/ daɪˈvɜːsɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being different or varied

2. a point of difference

3. logic the relation that holds between two entities when and only when they are not identical; the property of being numerically distinct

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• diversities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of diversity

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English diversite, from Anglo-French, from Latin dīversitās; see diverse, -ity

Explanation

When there's diversity, there's variety. Often, this word is used for diversity of race, class, or gender. To have diversity, you need a mix of whatever you're talking about. If you like science fiction, romantic comedies, cartoons, and action movies, then you like a diversity of types of films. If you like nothing but kung fu films, then you don't like a diversity of films. No matter what kind of diversity you're talking about, there needs to be a real mix, kind of like a huge box of Crayolas.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

diversity diversities

For example, Bloom’s study found that references to remote work and diversity, equity and inclusion have dropped in recent years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

The California regulator was the last state to approve Verizon’s acquisition of Frontier, due to concerns about conflicting federal and state-level diversity policies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

“Immigration is really important, inclusion is important, diversity is very important,” Shrauger said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

Dog diversity was shaped by culture as well as climate and practical needs.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 10, 2026

That shouldn’t surprise us, since Polynesia provides only a small slice of the world’s geographic diversity.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Instead of ranking the restaurants that make the Golden State, in Addison’s words, a “culinary juggernaut,” the list, which is only a beginning, offers a glimpse into the cultures and diversities that make up California.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 31, 2025

"Our independent curriculum and assessment review aims to deliver a curriculum that reflects the issues and diversities of our society, ensuring all children and young people are represented," they said.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2025

This interval, known as the Hettangian, was a time of continuing adverse conditions in the oceans, with generally low diversities among marine invertebrates, such as ammonites and bivalves.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 30, 2024

"We wanted to give all the filmmakers and all the storytellers and the diversities of locations and tones its own kind of vocabulary," Gordon said.

From Salon ● Jan. 22, 2023

Such diversities are well known to exist in both spheres of thought.

From The Relations of Science and Religion The Morse Lecture, 1880 by Henry Calderwood

Related Words

• diversification