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differencedisparity; unlikeness; distinction: made a differenceNot to be confused with:deference ? courteous respect for another?s opinion, wishes, or judgment: treated with deferenceAbused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreedif·fer·ence (d?f??r-?ns, d?f?r?ns)n.1. The quality or condition of being unlike or dissimilar.2. a. An instance of disparity or unlikeness: There is a big difference in sound between a clarinet and an oboe.b. A degree or amount by which things differ: a difference in height of three inches.3. A noticeable change or effect: Exercise has made a difference in her health.4. A disagreement or controversy: Let’s settle our differences.5. Discrimination in taste or choice; distinction: In this case, the law should make no difference between young and old.6. Mathematics a. The amount by which one quantity is greater or less than another.b. The amount that remains after one quantity is subtracted from another.tr.v. dif·fer·enced, dif·fer·enc·ing, dif·fer·enc·es To distinguish or differentiate.Synonyms: difference, dissimilarity, unlikeness, divergence, variation, distinction, discrepancy These nouns refer to a lack of correspondence or agreement. Difference is the most general: differences in color and size; a difference of degree but not of kind. Dissimilarity and unlikeness often suggest a wide or fundamental difference: the dissimilarity between human and computer language; attracted to each other by their very unlikeness. However, dissimilarity is also used to emphasize the points of difference between things that are otherwise alike or comparable: an analysis of the dissimilarities between the two sets of data. Divergence can denote a difference resulting from a branching or separation; alternatively, it can indicate a range of difference within a category: the growing divergence between British and American English; a large group with a divergence of opinions on the subject. Variation occurs between things of the same class or species; often it refers to a modification of something original, prescribed, or typical: variations in temperature; a variation of a familiar technique. Distinction often means a difference in detail determinable only by close inspection: the distinction between “good” and “excellent.” A discrepancy is a difference between things that should correspond or match: a discrepancy between his words and his actions.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.difference (?d?f?r?ns; ?d?fr?ns) n1. the state or quality of being unlike2. a specific instance of being unlike3. a distinguishing mark or feature4. 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 things7. (Mathematics) a. the result of the subtraction of one number, quantity, etc, from anotherb. the single number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend; remainder8. (Logic) logic another name for differentia9. (Mathematics) maths (of two sets)a. the set of members of the first that are not members of the second. Symbol: A ? B b. symmetric difference the set of members of one but not both of the given sets. Often symbolized: A + B 10. (Heraldry) heraldry an addition to the arms of a family to represent a younger branch11. make a difference a. to have an effectb. to treat differently12. split the difference a. to settle a dispute by a compromiseb. to divide a remainder equally13. with a difference with some peculiarly distinguishing quality, good or badvb (tr) 14. rare to distinguish15. (Heraldry) heraldry to add a charge to (arms) to differentiate a branch of a familyCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014dif?fer?ence (?d?f ?r ?ns, ?d?f r?ns) n., v. -enced, -enc?ing. n. 1. the state or relation of being different; dissimilarity. 2. an instance or point of unlikeness or dissimilarity: the differences in their behavior. 3. a significant change in or effect on a situation: It made no difference what I said; nothing could persuade him. 4. a distinguishing characteristic; distinctive quality, feature, etc. 5. the degree to which one person or thing differs from another. 6. the act of distinguishing; discrimination; distinction. 7. a disagreement in opinion. 8. a dispute or quarrel. 9. Math. a. the amount by which one quantity is greater or less than another. b. (of a function f) an expression of the form f(x + h) ?f(x). 10. a differentia. v.t. 11. to cause or constitute a difference in or between; make different. 12. to perceive the difference in or between; discriminate. [1300?50; Middle English (The difference between things is the way or ways in which they are not the same.If something makes a difference to a situation, it affects it, usually in a positive way. If something makes no difference to a situation, it doesn’t affect it.If someone points out that two things are different, don’t say that they ‘make a difference’ between the things. You say that they make a distinction or draw a distinction between them.

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