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difference

difference

1.0
A way of showing how much two or more things are not the same
  • noun
  • /ˈdɪfərəns/
translation icon : diferencia
  • Yeah, that's the difference between winning and losing.
  • significant differences
  • statistically significant difference
  • gender differences

And what is the main difference with IVF babies?

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Examples

  • We also explain how our collection is developed, highlighting the difference between censorship and selection.

    Academic text (2015)
  • And what is the main difference with IVF babies?

  • And we see the national scale difference between those two.

  • Stick to the issues, people will see the difference between you two.

  • - Doctor, does he know the difference between right and wrong?

  • The most important difference is the Affordable Care Act.

  • And so what's the difference between mind and thought?

  • The difference in result may also be a difference in ideology between the three courts.

    Academic text (2017)
  • The language used to state expectations can make all the difference in shaping school climate.

    Academic text (2015)
  • There is a noticeable difference in flavor between the two types of cheese.

Synonyms

deviation
vsdifference
25 5.3

A difference from what is usual or expected

is the broader term for any lack of sameness, not only departures from normal
divergence
vsdifference
9 7.1

A difference from a standard or expected result

is the broad term for how two or more things are not the same
diff
vsdifference
  • Informal
1 8.1

A difference between two things, often between versions of a file

is the neutral, formal term used in general and technical contexts

Antonyms

157 2.7

A likeness between things that makes them seem related

10 4.2

A lack of change or variety in daily life

Idioms

71 3.5

To ask how two things are not the same or to say that does not matter

9 3.9

A very large difference that changes things a lot

same difference
  • Informal
4 6.0

A phrase people use to say two things do not matter

Compounds

A change that makes something much better or much worse

difference of opinion
  • Specialized
30 3.5

A situation where two or more people disagree about something important

potential difference
  • Specialized
1 4.1

The electric push between two points in a circuit measured in volts

difference limen
  • Specialized
9.9

The smallest change in a thing, like sound, light or weight, that a person can notice

difference threshold
  • Specialized
7.7

The smallest change in something, like light or taste, that a person can notice

A change in how something looks after washing, often its shine

7.9

The smallest change in a sound, weight, or temperature that a person can notice half the time

A fairly large change you can easily notice

9.6

To measure how two sets of scores are related by comparing their ranks

A number that shows how closely two sets of ranked scores move together

How Different

disparity
75 6.7
gap
365 1.7
difference
1.0
variation
113 3.0
sameness
10 4.2

Surface Forms

difference singular
differences plural

Morphology

difference = differ (transparent) = differ + ence

A straightforward nominalization of the verb 'differ' with productive suffix '-ence', giving the state or amount of being different.

Etymology

The word difference comes from the Latin parts dis- 'apart' and ferre 'to carry', so it originally meant things 'carried apart'. That's why a difference is what makes two or more things not the same.