divergence

noun

di·​ver·​gence də-ˈvər-jən(t)s 

dī-

1

a

: a drawing apart (as of lines extending from a common center)

b

: difference, disagreement

c

evolutionary biology : the development of dissimilar traits or features (as of body structure or behavior) in closely related populations, species, or lineages of common ancestry that typically occupy dissimilar environments or ecological niches : divergent evolution

2

: a deviation from a course or standard

3

: the condition of being mathematically divergent

Synonyms

• divergency
• difference
• diversity

Examples of divergence in a Sentence

a growing divergence of opinion about that U.S. president's place in history

any divergence from the community's strict moral code was met with social ostracism

Recent Examples on the Web

The huge divergence between the ADP and BLS reports, then, might not be that much of a statistical aberration — and could point to a growing schism in the U.S. labor market. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 4 July 2025

The market capitalization leaderboard for semiconductors continues to highlight the divergence between IP ownership and physical production. —Moneyshow, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

But there's plenty of divergence from the source material in store. —Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025

That divergence, that gap, is really important to me. —Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin dīvergentia, noun derivative of Latin dīvergent-, dīvergens divergent

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for divergence

• convergence
• emergence
• resurgence
• submergence
• postemergence
• preemergence
• reemergence
• vergence

Kids Definition

divergence

noun

di·​ver·​gence də-ˈvər-jən(t)s 

dī-

: the state of diverging : a drawing apart (as of lines extending from a common center)

Medical Definition

divergence

noun

di·​ver·​gence də-ˈvər-jən(t)s, dī- 

1

a

: a drawing apart

b

: the acquisition of dissimilar characters by related organisms under the influence of unlike environments

2

: dissemination of the effect of activity of a single nerve cell through multiple synaptic connections compare convergence sense 4

diverge

-ˈvərj 

verb

diverged; diverging

divergent

-ˈvər-jənt 

adjective