DIFFERENCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does difference mean? 

• DIFFERENCE (noun)
  The noun DIFFERENCE has 5 senses:

1. the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

2. a variation that deviates from the standard or norm

3. a disagreement or argument about something important

4. a significant change

5. the number that remains after subtraction; the number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend

  Familiarity information: DIFFERENCE used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DIFFERENCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The quality of being unlike or dissimilar

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

there are many differences between jazz and rock

Hypernyms ("difference" is a kind of...):

quality (an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone)

Attribute:

different (unlike in nature or quality or form or degree)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "difference"):

distinctness; otherness; separateness (the quality of being not alike; being distinct or different from that otherwise experienced or known)

differential (a quality that differentiates between similar things)

differentia (distinguishing characteristics (especially in different species of a genus))

distinction (a distinguishing difference between similar things or people)

disagreement; discrepancy; divergence; variance (a difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions)

dissimilarity; unsimilarity (the quality of being dissimilar)

change; variety (a difference that is usually pleasant)

inequality (lack of equality)

Antonym:

sameness (the quality of being alike)

Derivation:

differ (be different)

different (unlike in nature or quality or form or degree)

differential (relating to or showing a difference)

differentiate (become distinct and acquire a different character)

differentiate (become different during development)

differentiate (mark as different)

differentiate (be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A variation that deviates from the standard or norm

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

departure; deviation; difference; divergence

Context example:

the deviation from the mean

Hypernyms ("difference" is a kind of...):

fluctuation; variation (an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "difference"):

discrepancy; variance; variant (an event that departs from expectations)

driftage (the deviation (by a vessel or aircraft) from its intended course due to drifting)

flection; flexion; inflection (deviation from a straight or normal course)

Derivation:

differentiate (become distinct and acquire a different character)

differentiate (mark as different)

differentiate (be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A disagreement or argument about something important

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

conflict; difference; difference of opinion; dispute

Context example:

the familiar conflict between Republicans and Democrats

Hypernyms ("difference" is a kind of...):

disagreement (the speech act of disagreeing or arguing or disputing)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "difference"):

collision (a conflict of opposed ideas or attitudes or goals)

arguing; argument; contention; contestation; controversy; disceptation; disputation; tilt (a contentious speech act; a dispute where there is strong disagreement)

gap (a difference (especially an unfortunate difference) between two opinions or two views or two situations)

dustup; quarrel; row; run-in; words; wrangle (an angry dispute)

Derivation:

differ (be of different opinions)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A significant change

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Context example:

his support made a real difference

Hypernyms ("difference" is a kind of...):

change (a relational difference between states; especially between states before and after some event)

Derivation:

differential (relating to or showing a difference)

differentiate (become distinct and acquire a different character)

differentiate (become different during development)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The number that remains after subtraction; the number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

difference; remainder

Hypernyms ("difference" is a kind of...):

number (a concept of quantity involving zero and units)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "difference"):

balance (the difference between the totals of the credit and debit sides of an account)

 Context examples 

No two ropes were of the same length, while the difference in length between any two ropes was at least that of a dog's body.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

It takes people a long time to learn the difference between talent and genius, especially ambitious young men and women.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“Other people have dozens, scores, hundreds. I have only one. There's the difference. However, that's beside the question. The best school? Whatever the motive, you want the best?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

In contrast, wind can increase ventilation rates by as much as 40% above that which is driven by a temperature difference between a room and the outdoors.

(Wind more effective than cold air at cooling rooms naturally, University of Cambridge)

Differences in the health of groups can result from: • Genetics • Environmental factors • Access to care • Cultural factors

(African American Health, NIH)

A measure of the genetic difference between individuals or organisms.

(Allogenicity, NCI Thesaurus)

A normalized measure of a difference between 2 quantities, expressed as a percentage difference of either their mean or their sum, whichever is defined by a user.

(Asymmetry Index, NCI Thesaurus)

A question about the difference in an individual's breast texture or hardening between the treated and untreated breast since treatment for breast cancer.

(Breast Texture Difference Since Cancer Treatment, NCI Thesaurus)

A question about the difference in an individual's breast size between the treated and untreated breast since treatment for breast cancer.

(Breast Size Difference Since Cancer Treatment, NCI Thesaurus)

A question about the difference in an individual's breast shape between the treated and untreated breast since treatment for breast cancer.

(Breast Shape Difference Since Cancer Treatment, NCI Thesaurus)