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difference
Synonyms:

(Noun) contrariety, contrast, disagreement, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, distance, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, divergence, diverseness, diversity, imbalance, inconsistency, inequality, otherness, unlikeness, variation.

(Verb) differentiate, discern, discriminate, distinguish, secern, separate.

Related Words:

diversity, characteristic, divergence, variation, contrast, disparity, inequality, discrepancy, distinction, change, clash, discord, disagreement, argument, controversy, quarrel, debate, conflict, dispute, digression.

Antonyms:

(Noun) agreement, alikeness, analogousness, analogy, community, likeness, resemblance, sameness, similarity.

(Verb) confuse, mistake, mix (up).

Synonym Study 1:

Difference, discrepancy, disparity, dissimilarity imply perceivable unlikeness, variation, or diversity.

Difference refers to a lack of identity or a degree of unlikeness:
a difference of opinion; a difference of six inches.

Discrepancy usually refers to an inconsistency between things that should agree, balance, or harmonize:
a discrepancy between the statements of two witnesses.

Disparity implies inequality, often where a greater equality might reasonably be expected:
a great disparity between the ages of husband and wife.

Dissimilarity indicates an essential lack of resemblance between things in some respect comparable:
a dissimilarity between social customs in Asia and America.

Synonym Study 2:

Distinction and difference may both refer to perceivable dissimilarities and, in this meaning, may be used interchangeably:
There is a distinction ( difference ) between the two.

Distinction, however, usually suggests the perception of dissimilarity, as the result of analysis and discrimination:
a carefully made distinction between two treatments of the same theme;

whereas difference refers only to the condition of being dissimilar:
the difference between Gothic and Roman architecture.

“A distinction without a difference” is a way of referring to an artificial or false discrimination.

Origin:

1300–50; Middle English (< Anglo-French) < Latin differentia, equivalent to different- carrying different ways (see different) + -ia -ia; see -ence. —Dictionary.com. // First Known Use: Noun: 14th century. Verb: 15th century. History and Etymology: Noun: Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin differentia "distinction, distinguishing characteristic," from different-, differens, present participle of differre "to carry in varying directions, delay, differ" + -ia -ia entry 1. Note: Latin differentia was used by Cicero and others as an equivalent of Greek diaphorá, a nominal derivative of diaphérein (see note at differ). —Merriam-Webster.

Sources: 1, 2.

Updated: 22 June 2020 {11:44 PM}

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