Definitions for difference
ˈdɪf ər əns, ˈdɪf rənsdif·fer·ence

Princeton's WordNet(4.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. differencenoun

   the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

   "there are many differences between jazz and rock"

2. deviation, divergence, departure, differencenoun

   a variation that deviates from the standard or norm

   "the deviation from the mean"

3. dispute, difference, difference of opinion, conflictnoun

   a disagreement or argument about something important

   "he had a dispute with his wife"; "there were irreconcilable differences"; "the familiar conflict between Republicans and Democrats"

4. differencenoun

   a significant change

   "the difference in her is amazing"; "his support made a real difference"

5. remainder, differencenoun

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

Wiktionary(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. differencenoun

   The quality of being different.

   You need to learn to be more tolerant of difference.

2. differencenoun

   A characteristic of something that makes it different from something else.

   There are three differences between these two pictures.

3. differencenoun

   A disagreement or argument.

4. differencenoun

   Significant change in or effect on a situation or state.

5. differencenoun

   The result of a subtraction; sometimes the absolute value of this result.

6. differenceverb

   To distinguish or differentiate.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Differencenoun

   Etymology: differentia, Latin.

   1. State of being distinct from something; contrariety to identity.

   Where the faith of the holy church is one, a difference between customs of the church doth no harm. Richard Hooker, b. iv.

   2. The quality by which one differs from another.

   This nobility, or difference from the vulgar, was not in the beginning given to the succession of blood, but to the succession of virtue. Walter Raleigh, History of the World.

   Thus born alike, from virtue first began
   The diff’rence that distinguish’d man from man:
   He claim’d no title from descent of blood,
   But that which made him noble, made him good. Dryden.

   Though it be useful to discern every variety that is to be found in nature, yet it is not convenient to consider every difference that is in things, and divide them into distinct classes, under every such difference. John Locke.

   3. The disproportion between one thing and another caused by the qualities of each.

   You shall see great difference betwixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia. William Shakespeare, Winter’s Tale.

   Oh the strange difference of man and man!
   To thee a woman’s services are due;
   My fool usurps my body. William Shakespeare, King Lear.

   Here might be seen a great difference between men practised to fight, and men accustomed only to spoil. John Hayward.

   4. Dispute; debate; quarrel; controversy.

   What was the difference?
   ———— It was a contention in publick. William Shakespeare, Cymbeline.

   He is weary of his life that hath a difference with any of them, and will walk abroad after daylight. George Sandys.

   5. Distinction.

   Our constitution, under a good administration, does not only make a difference between the guilty and the innocent, but, even among the guilty, between such as are more or less criminal. Joseph Addison, Freeholder, №. 31.

   Nothing could have fallen out more unluckily than that there should be such differences among them, about that which they pretend to be the only means of ending differences. John Tillotson.

   6. Point in question; ground of controversy.

   Are you acquainted with the difference,
   That holds this present question in the court? William Shakespeare.

   7. A logical distinction.

   Some are never without a difference, and commonly, by amusing men with a subtilty, blanch the matter. Francis Bacon, Essays.

   8. Evidences of distinction; differential marks.

   Henry had the title of sovereign, yet did not put those things in execution which are the true marks and differences of sovereignty. Davies.

2. To Differenceverb

   To cause a difference; to make one thing not the same as another.

   Etymology: from the noun.

   Most are apt to seek all the differences of letters in those articulating motions; whereas several combinations of letters are framed by the very same motions of those organs, which are commonly observed, and are differenced by other concurrent causes. William Holder, Elements of Speech.

   Grass differenceth a civil and well cultivated region from a barren and desolate wilderness. John Ray, on the Creation.

   We see nothing that differences the courage of Mnestheus from that of Sergesthus. Alexander Pope, Essay on Homer.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Differencenoun

   the act of differing; the state or measure of being different or unlike; distinction; dissimilarity; unlikeness; variation; as, a difference of quality in paper; a difference in degrees of heat, or of light; what is the difference between the innocent and the guilty?

2. Differencenoun

   disagreement in opinion; dissension; controversy; quarrel; hence, cause of dissension; matter in controversy

3. Differencenoun

   that by which one thing differs from another; that which distinguishes or causes to differ; mark of distinction; characteristic quality; specific attribute

4. Differencenoun

   choice; preference

5. Differencenoun

   an addition to a coat of arms to distinguish the bearings of two persons, which would otherwise be the same. See Augmentation, and Marks of cadency, under Cadency

6. Differencenoun

   the quality or attribute which is added to those of the genus to constitute a species; a differentia

7. Differencenoun

   the quantity by which one quantity differs from another, or the remainder left after subtracting the one from the other

8. Differenceverb

   to cause to differ; to make different; to mark as different; to distinguish

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Difference

   Difference is the third album of the Finnish power metal band Dreamtale released on 25 April 2005 on Spinefarm Records. It was also released in Japan. It features on vocals for the first time in the band Jarkko Ahola of the band Teräsbetoni.

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. difference

   An important army term, meaning firstly the sum to be paid by officers when exchanging from the half to full pay; and, secondly, the price or difference in value of the several commissions.

Matched Categories

1. • Change
   • Number
   • Quality
   • Variation

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'difference' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #948

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'difference' in Written Corpus Frequency: #626

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'difference' in Nouns Frequency: #195

How to pronounce difference?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say difference in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of difference in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of difference in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of difference in a Sentence

1. Minjee Kim:

   We wanted to see if there was a difference in frequencies of these diseases related to light exposure at night.

2. Jason Rabinowitz:

   It’s physically impossible, when at cruising altitude, the pressure difference between the outside of the plane and the inside of the plane, which is pressurized, creates a situation where the door cannot open.

3. Raj Jayadev:

   The difference with Silicon Valley is we're the one region in the country that could actually eliminate child poverty -- because of the amount of accumulated wealth, if we don't take that opportunity, you sorta wonder what the larger point of Silicon Valley is.

4. Hunter S. Thompson:

   That was always the difference between Muhammad Ali and the rest of us. He came, he saw, and if he didn't entirely conquer -- he came as close as anybody we are likely to see in the lifetime of this doomed generation.

5. Daniel Swain:

   This is not nearly enough, partly because it’s a supply and demand problem. We still got a lot of straws in the ground, but you’d need multiple years like this in a row to really move the needle on recharging those aquifers. There’s probably some recharge going on right now, but it’s unlikely to be the very large amount that would be needed to really make a big difference there.

Popularity rank by frequency of use