difference
Americannoun
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the state or relation of being different; dissimilarity.
There is a great difference between the two.
- Synonyms:
- contrariety, contrast, divergence, inequality, imbalance, diversity, variation, inconsistency
- Antonyms:
- agreement, similarity
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an instance or point of unlikeness or dissimilarity.
What accounts for the differences in their behavior?
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a significant change in or effect on a situation.
His tact makes a difference in the way people accept his suggestions.
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a distinguishing characteristic; distinctive quality, feature, etc..
The difference in the two products is quality.
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the degree to which one person or thing differs from another.
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the act of distinguishing; discrimination; distinction.
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a disagreement in opinion.
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a dispute or quarrel.
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Also called finite distance. Mathematics.
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the amount by which one quantity is greater or less than another.
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(of a functionf ) an expression of the form f (x +h ) − f (x ).
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a differentia.
verb (used with object)
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to cause or constitute a difference in or between; make different.
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to perceive the difference in or between; discriminate.
idioms
noun
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the state or quality of being unlike
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a specific instance of being unlike
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a distinguishing mark or feature
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a significant change in a situation
the difference in her is amazing
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a disagreement or argument
he had a difference with his wife
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a degree of distinctness, as between two people or things
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the result of the subtraction of one number, quantity, etc, from another
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the single number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend; remainder
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logic another name for differentia
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maths
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A – B. the set of members of the first that are not members of the second
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Often symbolized: A + B. the set of members of one but not both of the given sets
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heraldry an addition to the arms of a family to represent a younger branch
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to have an effect
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to treat differently
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to settle a dispute by a compromise
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to divide a remainder equally
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with some peculiarly distinguishing quality, good or bad
verb
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rare to distinguish
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heraldry to add a charge to (arms) to differentiate a branch of a family
Related Words
Difference, discrepancy, disparity, dissimilarity imply perceivable unlikeness, variation, or diversity. Difference refers to a lack of identity or a degree of unlikeness: a difference of opinion; a difference of six inches. Discrepancy usually refers to an inconsistency between things that should agree, balance, or harmonize: a discrepancy between the statements of two witnesses. Disparity implies inequality, often where a greater equality might reasonably be expected: a great disparity between the ages of husband and wife. Dissimilarity indicates an essential lack of resemblance between things in some respect comparable: a dissimilarity between social customs in Asia and America. See distinction.
Etymology
Origin of difference
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin differentia, equivalent to different- “scattering, dispersing” ( see different ( def. )) + -ia -ia ( def. ); see -ence ( def. )
Explanation
Difference is a word for things that are not the same. Identical twins have few if any differences in appearance. If you dye your hair green, everyone is going to notice a huge difference. People often have differences of opinion. No two people are alike, so there are all kinds of differences between individuals. In math, a difference is the remainder left after subtracting one number from another. Chimps and gorillas are both apes, but there are a lot of differences between them. If something doesn't really change an outcome, you can say, "It makes no difference."
Vocabulary lists containing difference
PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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The SAT: Language of the Test, List 4
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The Language of Standardized Tests, List 3
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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.
However, the main difference is that she can now work directly with clients throughout the entire application process and help them secure the home.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
When compared side by side, the phones are virtually identical in display, platform software, and storage capacity, with the main difference being selfie camera quality.
From Salon • May 21, 2026
"It's brilliant that, after we have invested devolved funding to make a difference that people across the West can see and feel, the government is rolling out Kids Go Free nationally this August!"
From BBC • May 21, 2026
The market’s heavy concentration in a small number of stocks is the biggest difference between the dot-com bubble and today’s AI boom, Adams said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
Alas, there was a difference between someone being capable of work and someone finding endless joy in it.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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.
