difference

¹dif·fer·ence

noun \ˈdi-fərn(t)s, ˈdi-f(ə-)rən(t)s\

Definition of DIFFERENCE

1

a : the quality or state of being different <the difference between right and wrong> b : an instance of differing in nature, form, or quality <noted the differences in color and texture> c archaic : a characteristic that distinguishes one from another or from the average d : the element or factor that separates or distinguishes contrasting situations

2

: distinction or discrimination in preference <timing is often the difference between success and failure>

3

a : disagreement in opinion : dissension b : an instance or cause of disagreement <unable to settle their differences>

4

: the degree or amount by which things differ in quantity or measure; specifically : remainder 2b(1)

5

: a significant change in or effect on a situation <it makes no difference to me>

Examples of DIFFERENCE

1. She knows the difference between right and wrong.
2. There's no difference between the two houses. They look exactly the same.
3. There's a big difference in price.

First Known Use of DIFFERENCE

14th century

Related to DIFFERENCE

Synonyms: contrast, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, distance, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, diverseness, diversity, otherness, unlikeness

Antonyms: alikeness, analogousness, analogy, community, likeness, resemblance, sameness, similarity

Related Words: deviance, divergence; differentiability, discriminability, distinguishability; change, modification, variation; conflict, discord, discordance, dissension (also dissention), dissent, dissidence, disunity, friction, strife; variability, variance; anomalousness, dichotomy, incompatibility, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness, nonconformity; disproportion, imbalance, inequality, nonequivalence

Near Antonyms: identicalness, identity; accordance, agreement, conformity, congruity, correspondence, parallelism, similitude; equality, equivalence, equivalency; homogeneity, homogeneousness, uniformity

see all synonyms and antonyms

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