Etimology
From Middle English difference, from Old French difference, from Latin differentia (“difference”), from differēns (“different”), present participle of differre. Doublet of differentia. Morphologically differ + -ence.
noun
difference (countable and uncountable, plural differences)
(uncountable) The quality of being different.
(countable) A characteristic of something that makes it different from something else.
(countable) A disagreement or argument.
(countable, uncountable) Significant change in or effect on a situation or state.
(countable) The result of a subtraction; sometimes the absolute value of this result.
(obsolete) Choice; preference.
(heraldry) An addition to a coat of arms to distinguish two people's bearings which would otherwise be the same. See augmentation and cadency.
(logic) The quality or attribute which is added to those of the genus to constitute a species; a differentia.
(logic circuits) A Boolean operation which is true when the two input variables are different but is otherwise false; the XOR operation ( A B ¯ + A ¯ B {\displaystyle \scriptstyle A{\overline {B}}+{\overline {A}}B} ).
(relational algebra) The set of elements that are in one set but not another ( A B ¯ {\displaystyle \scriptstyle A{\overline {B}}} ).
Examples
Antonyms: identity, sameness
You need to learn to be more tolerant of difference.
There are three differences between these two pictures.
But poverty’s scourge is fiercest below $1.25 : people below that level live lives that are poor, nasty, brutish and short.
We have our little differences, but we are firm friends.
What was the difference? It was a contention in public.
Away therefore went I with the constable, leaving the old warden and the young constable to compose their difference as they could.
It just won't make much difference to me.
It just won't make much of a difference to anyone.
The line of the horizon was clear and hard against the sky, and in one particular quarter it showed black against a silvery climbing phosphorescence that grew and grew. At last, over the rim of the waiting earth the moon lifted with slow majesty till it swung clear of the horizon and rode off, free of moorings; and once more they began to see surfaces—meadows wide-spread, and quiet gardens, and the river itself from bank to bank, all softly disclosed, all washed clean of mystery and terror, all radiant again as by day, but with a difference that was tremendous.
As she did so Fanny put down her book , stood up and stretched her arms, and at once Jessamy noticed a difference. It was the same Fanny but not the Fanny who climbed trees and tore her frock playing in the garden. It was as though a young lady film had settled over her, neatening her unruly hair, which was tied back with a large black bow, and primly composing her small mouth.
The difference between 3 and 21 is 18.
That now be chooseth with vile difference To be a beast, and lack intelligence.
Related words
synonyms
(characteristic of something that makes it different from something else): departure, deviation, divergence, disparity
(disagreement or argument about something important): conflict, difference of opinion, dispute, dissension
(result of a subtraction): remainder
(significant change in state): nevermind
verb
difference (third-person singular simple present differences, present participle differencing, simple past and past participle differenced)
(obsolete, transitive) To distinguish or differentiate.
Examples
This simple spectation of the lungs is differenced from that which concomitates a pleurisy.
[…] and souls, like in the mass, but differenced in themselves, with special gifts, duties and joys […]
In the Calais Roll the arms of William de Warren […] are differenced by the addition of a canton said to be that of Fitzalan […]
Related words
synonyms
(to distinguish or differentiate): differentiate, distinguish