dif·fer·ent
ˈdi-f(ə-)rənt 
ˈdi-fərnt
1
: partly or totally unlike in nature, form, or quality : dissimilar
could hardly be more different
—often followed by from, than, or chiefly British to… small, neat hand, very different from the captain's tottery characters …—
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevensonvastly different in size than it was twenty-five years ago—N. M. Pusey
N. M. Puseya very different situation to the … one under which we live—Sir Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill2
differentness
noun
Is it different than or different from?: Usage Guide
Different is commonly followed by than or from.
Our house is different from the others on our street.
The movie was different than I expected.
Despite some opposition in the past, both different from and different than are standard and have been in use since the 15th and 17th century, respectively. Different than is more common for introducing a sentence part that has its own subject and verb because using different from requires more words.
I had a different experience than you did. = I had a different experience from the one you had.
Overall, however, different from is more common.
Examples of different in a Sentence
Adjective
The two brothers could not have been more different.
We need to try an entirely different approach.
They met with each other on several different occasions.
advertising that tries to be different
That movie certainly was different.
He has a very different style of dressing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
By the 1950s, though, both culture and cinema were in a different place.
—JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
As different versions and spinoffs of the film followed, the actor stepped away but later came back when the series launched its final trilogy.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Freeman’s coaching style is different and more player-friendly than Kelly’s, and Freeman took Notre Dame to the national championship game a year ago.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for different
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Adjective
He was also convicted on seven rape charges perpetrated against seven different victims, all of whom testified at his trial.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
By the 1950s, though, both culture and cinema were in a different place.
—JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
As different versions and spinoffs of the film followed, the actor stepped away but later came back when the series launched its final trilogy.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Freeman’s coaching style is different and more player-friendly than Kelly’s, and Freeman took Notre Dame to the national championship game a year ago.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for different
Cite this Entry
“Different.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/different. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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