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

Ben Dancer's team says the performance is intended to reflect that diversity, rather than simply test his physical endurance.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

"I only had one field season, but there's definitely more diversity out there that we haven't documented."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 25, 2026

He announced the launch of “Smithsonian Cares,” a digital resource that would “provide tools and guidance to empower and inspire conversations about diversity, equity, access and inclusion.”

From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026

Without concrete steps to tolerate more intellectual diversity, insist on free inquiry and provide real value for money, universities will remain in minimum high regard.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

I was too far from my family, and I missed the diversity of New York City.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

He also cautions against giving into the demand of Kuki-Zos for a separate administration because "it can have ripple effects for others, who can escalate similar demands, given Manipur's overlapping cultural and ethnic diversities".

From BBC ● Feb. 10, 2026

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

“Having this platform, and being able to be open to other diversities of music and of culture, is truly wonderful,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 3, 2023

"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