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difference

difference

∞ 1.0
A way of showing how much two or more things are not the same
  • noun
  • /ˈdɪfərəns/
: 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.