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
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
See Examples For:
There’s a big difference between a verbal agreement and a legally binding contract.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
"It's going to make a huge difference to me," Sarah tells the BBC.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
The difference is that he’s describing the U.K.’s white underclass.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
The researchers explain the difference through the "speed-governing" effect of Earth's magnetosphere.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026
He was going to have to learn the difference.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
While acknowledging the two countries had "significant differences", Rubio said they would "have to work through those".
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
These differences remained even after the researchers accounted for physical activity, diabetes, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol use.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026
It was an ill-starred pairing, Keegan resigning after only eight months following differences with Ashley and Newcastle's hierarchy, including his former England player Dennis Wise, who was executive director.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
The performance will touch on the comedian’s experience moving to Ireland, the challenges of cultural differences and her relationship with her nonbinary child, all filtered through her characteristic humor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
Then, the groups may begin to emphasize the differences and frame them as a threat.
From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
When you are dead, and stand to me Not differenced, as now, But like again, will you be cold As when we lived, or how?
From Washington Post ● Jan. 27, 2016
If a second map of the exact same area is acquired when there is no snow, the two surfaces can be differenced to produce a snow depth map.
From Scientific American ● Apr. 10, 2012
"David is a point of differenced player and we are looking forward to him making an impact at the breakdown," the Australia forwards coach, Jim Williams, said.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 23, 2010
The echo of the Karstark sunburst was there for those who cared to look, but differenced to make the arms appropriate for House Thenn.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Illegitimate children generally bore the paternal ensigns differenced by certain brizures.
From The Curiosities of Heraldry by Lower, Mark Antony
By differencing the NH and SH they magnify the effect.
From New York Times ● Sep. 22, 2010
An interesting example of early differencing is cited by Sir Harris Nicolas, in his ‘Roll of Carlaverok.’
From The Curiosities of Heraldry by Lower, Mark Antony
Rules of general enunciation made false in the applying, by the inability of perceiving in the instance the differencing conditions which qualify the rule, or suspend it.
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 57, No. 353, March 1845 by Various
Sir Edmund Mauley in the 14th century is found differencing the black bend of his elder brother by charging it with three wyvers of silver.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 3 "Helmont, Jean" to "Hernosand" by Various
The arms borne in the usual manner were often surrounded with a bordure to indicate bastardy; of this mode of differencing several examples are furnished in the arms of existing peers descended from royalty.
From The Curiosities of Heraldry by Lower, Mark Antony
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.