difference

Pronunciation: /ˈdɪf(ə)ɹəns/

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: A2 — Elementary

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the quality of being unlike or dissimilar
  2. noun a variation that deviates from the standard or norm
  3. noun a disagreement or argument about something important

Etymology

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.

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
quality
Narrower (hyponyms)
otherness, discrepancy, differential, differentia, inequality, dissimilarity
Opposite (antonyms)
sameness

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