definitions

heterogeneous

[ het-er-uh-jee-nee-uhs, -jeen-yuhs ]
/ ˌhɛt ər əˈdʒi ni əs, -ˈdʒin yəs /
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adjective

different in kind; unlike; incongruous.
composed of parts of different kinds; having widely dissimilar elements or constituents: The party was attended by a heterogeneous group of artists, politicians, and social climbers.
Chemistry. (of a mixture) composed of different substances or the same substance in different phases, as solid ice and liquid water.

RELATED WORDS

amalgamate, composite, confused, conglomerate, contrary, different, discordant, discrepant, disparate, dissimilar, divergent, diverse, incongruous, independent, inharmonious, jumbled, mixed, mongrel, mosaic, motley

Nearby words

heterogamete, heterogametic, heterogamous, heterogamy, heterogeneity, heterogeneous, heterogeneous nuclear rna, heterogeneous radiation, heterogeneous system, heterogenesis, heterogenetic

Origin of heterogeneous

1615–25; < Medieval Latin heterogeneus < Greek heterogenḗs. See hetero-, gene, -ous
Related formshet·er·o·ge·ne·ous·ly, adverbhet·er·o·ge·ne·ous·ness, noun
Can be confusedheterogeneous heterogenous homogeneous homogenous
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for heterogeneous

British Dictionary definitions for heterogeneous

heterogeneous

/ (ˌhɛtərəʊˈdʒiːnɪəs) /

adjective

composed of unrelated or differing parts or elements
not of the same kind or type
chem of, composed of, or concerned with two or more different phasesCompare homogeneous
Derived Formsheterogeneity (ˌhɛtərəʊdʒɪˈniːɪtɪ) or heterogeneousness, nounheterogeneously, adverb

Word Origin for heterogeneous

C17: from Medieval Latin heterogeneus, from Greek heterogenēs, from hetero- + genos sort
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for heterogeneous

heterogeneous

[ hĕt′ər-ə-jē′nē-əs, -jēn′yəs ]

adj.

Composed of parts having dissimilar characteristics or properties.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.