The difference between two things is the way in which they are unlike each other.
That is the fundamental difference between the two societies. [+ between]
There is no difference between the sexes.
...the vast difference in size. [+ in]
We do have problems here. The difference is that people try to help each other.
Synonyms: dissimilarity, contrast, variation, change More Synonyms of difference
2. singular noun
A difference between two quantities is the amount by which one quantity is less than the other.
The difference is 8532.
3. countable noun [usually plural, oft poss NOUN]
If people have their differences about something, they disagree about it.
The two communities are learning how to resolve their differences.
Synonyms: disagreement, conflict, argument, row More Synonyms of difference
4.
See make a/no difference
5.
See split the difference
6.
See with a difference
7.
See difference of opinion
More Synonyms of difference
difference in British English
(ˈdɪfərəns, ˈdɪfrəns)
noun
1.
the state or quality of being unlike
2.
a specific instance of being unlike
3.
a distinguishing mark or feature
4.
a significant change in a situation
the difference in her is amazing
5.
a disagreement or argument
he had a difference with his wife
6.
a degree of distinctness, as between two people or things
7.
a.
the result of the subtraction of one number, quantity, etc, from another
b.
the single number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend; remainder
8. logic another name for differentia
9. symmetric difference
10. heraldry
an addition to the arms of a family to represent a younger branch
11. make a difference
12. split the difference
13. with a difference
verb(transitive)
14. rare
to distinguish
15. heraldry
to add a charge to (arms) to differentiate a branch of a family
difference in American English
(ˈdɪfərəns; ˈdɪfrəns)
noun
1.
condition, quality, fact, or instance of being different
2.
the way in which people or things are different; esp., a determining point or factor that makes for a distinct change or contrast
3.
a.
the state of holding a differing opinion; disagreement
b.
the point at issue; point of disagreement
4.
a dispute; quarrel
5.
a discrimination or distinction in preference
6.
a significant effect on or change in a situation
7. Ancient Mathematics
the amount by which one quantity differs from another; remainder left after subtraction
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈdifferˌenced or ˈdifferˌencing
8. Rare
to distinguish as or make different
Idioms:
(it's the) same difference
make a difference
make no difference
split the difference
what's the difference?
Word origin
ME < OFr < L differentia < differens, prp. of differre: see differ
Examples of 'difference' in a sentence
difference
That proved the involvement of a legend could make a real difference.
The Sun (2017)
This alone will make a huge difference.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Some residents are concerned that the patrols have made little difference.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
You look at love in a wise way and see the difference between flattery and genuine feelings.
The Sun (2016)
The players that did come in this time last year made a big difference.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
You can really make a difference to people 's lives.
The Sun (2016)
You'll see a difference with one treatment.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Choosing to make a difference locally by helping to organise a charity campaign brings an unexpected love option to light that could add so much excitement.
The Sun (2016)
The moon moves into your birth sign and in a quiet but effective way, you get people to resolve their differences and work as a team.
The Sun (2016)
You will make a real difference to how you feel.
The Sun (2015)
This has made a huge difference to these schools.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
What a difference little more than a year makes.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
United are now happy to sit back and see the pair resolve their differences.
The Sun (2011)
You can see the difference between learning from the past and letting it hold you back.
The Sun (2014)
You see the difference between helping and doing too much for those you care about.
The Sun (2013)
The role of quality differences is of special interest.
Forstner, Helmut, Ballance, Robert Competing in a Global Economy (1990)
You see the difference between genuine people and those who just talk a good game.
The Sun (2011)
Your neck is on the line as a manager which is the biggest difference.
The Sun (2010)
There is less difference with women than might have been expected.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The difference made by injuries to goal difference adds another layer of complexity.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Today there are some crucial differences but one important similarity.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There is not a great amount of difference on ability between the four teams.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This is unlikely to make much difference.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We came here full of ambition but tonight there was a huge difference between the two sides.
The Sun (2010)
The only difference was the degree of control they had over their lives.
Claudia Hammond EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER: A Journey Through the Science of Feelings (2005)
IT'S amazing the difference three little letters can make.
The Sun (2016)
The difference between the most expensive and the cheapest areas remains unchanged.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There is quite a dramatic size difference between them.
The Sun (2014)
There are some real differences between men and women in regard to heart disease.
Kowalski, Robert E The 8-Week Cholesterol Cure (1990)
The changes will make a huge difference.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Those three days off could make that little bit of difference.
The Sun (2012)
He may need negotiation skills to resolve differences between trainees or between trainees and himself.
O'Connor, Joseph & Seymour, John Training with N.L.P. (1994)
Be sure you see the difference between being strong and stubborn at home.
The Sun (2014)
Word lists with
difference
heraldry
In other languages
difference
British English: difference /ˈdɪfərəns; ˈdɪfrəns/ NOUN
The difference between things is the way in which they are different from each other.
...the great difference in size.
American English: difference
Arabic: اِخْتِلَاف
Brazilian Portuguese: diferença
Chinese: 差别
Croatian: razlika
Czech: rozdíl
Danish: forskel
Dutch: verschil
European Spanish: diferencia
Finnish: ero
French: différence
German: Unterschied
Greek: διαφορά
Italian: differenza
Japanese: 違い
Korean: 차이점
Norwegian: forskjell
Polish: różnica
European Portuguese: diferença
Romanian: diferență
Russian: разница
Latin American Spanish: diferencia
Swedish: skillnad
Thai: ความแตกต่าง
Turkish: farklılık
Ukrainian: різниця
Vietnamese: sự khác nhau
All related terms of 'difference'
age difference
a disparity in ages between two people
goal difference
the number of goals scored by a team minus the number of goals it has conceded
time difference
the difference in clock time between two or more different time zones
common difference
the positive or negative constant added to each term in an arithmetic progression
phase difference
the difference between two sinusoidally varying quantities that have the same frequency , measured either as an angle or a time
difference amplifier
A difference amplifier is a device that amplifies the difference between two inputs , rejecting any signals common to both.
difference threshold
the minimum difference between two stimuli that is just detectable by a person
make a difference
to have an effect
make no difference
to have no effect; not matter
potential difference
the difference in electric potential between two points in an electric field ; the work that has to be done in transferring unit positive charge from one point to the other, measured in volts
symmetric difference
the set of members of the first that are not members of the second
with a difference
If you describe a job or holiday , for example , as a job with a difference or a holiday with a difference , you mean that the job or holiday is very interesting and unusual .
difference of opinion
If there is a difference of opinion between two or more people or groups, they disagree about something.
split the difference
If you split the difference with someone, you agree on an amount or price which is halfway between two suggested amounts or prices.
what's the difference?
what does it matter?
a world of difference
If you say that there is a world of difference between one thing and another, you are emphasizing that they are very different from each other.
make a/no difference
If something makes a difference or makes a lot of difference , it affects you and helps you in what you are doing. If something makes no difference , it does not have any effect on what you are doing.
just noticeable difference
the minimum difference between two stimuli that is just detectable by a person
(it's the) same difference
there is no difference
jnd
just noticeable difference
near enough/as near as makes no difference/as near as dammit/damned near
If you want to indicate that something is almost true , you can use the expressions near enough and damned near . In British English, you can also say as near as dammit .