heterogeneity

noun

het·​ero·​ge·​ne·​i·​ty ˌhe-tə-rō-jə-ˈnē-ə-tē 

ˌhe-trō-

: the quality or state of consisting of dissimilar or diverse elements : the quality or state of being heterogeneous

cultural heterogeneity

Synonyms

• assortment
• diverseness
• diversity
• heterogeneousness
• manifoldness
• miscellaneousness
• multifariousness
• multiplicity
• variety
• variousness

Examples of heterogeneity in a Sentence

the cultural heterogeneity of its residents is a point of pride for the city

Recent Examples on the Web

Accounting for sampling heterogeneity suggests a low paleolatitude origin for dinosaurs Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2025

Accounting for sampling heterogeneity suggests a low palaeolatitude origin for dinosaurs. —John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025

The heterogeneity of diseases calls for a diverse range of medicines. —Max Votek, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024

The rationale behind this heterogeneity is to avoid such a policy's uneven incidence on households at different income levels. —Simi Thambi​, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin heterogeneitāt-, heterogeneitās, from heterogeneus heterogeneous + Latin -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

heterogeneity

noun

het·​ero·​ge·​ne·​ity ˌhet-ə-rō-jə-ˈnē-ət-ē, ˌhe-trō- 

plural heterogeneities

: the quality or state of being heterogeneous