heterogeneous

adjective

het·​ero·​ge·​neous ˌhe-tə-rə-ˈjēn-yəs 

ˌhe-trə-,

-ˈjē-nē-əs

: consisting of dissimilar or diverse ingredients or constituents : mixed

an ethnically heterogeneous population

heterogeneously adverb

heterogeneousness noun

Synonyms

• assorted
• eclectic
• indiscriminate
• kitchen-sink
• magpie
• miscellaneous
• mixed
• motley
• patchwork
• piebald
• promiscuous
• raggle-taggle
• ragtag
• varied

Examples of heterogeneous in a Sentence

the seating in the hall was a heterogeneous collection of old school desk chairs, wood and metal folding chairs, and even a few plush theater seats

Recent Examples on the Web

There are studios, pop-up spaces where a show will be up for only a week or a few days, literary spaces like Sovereign House, as well as photography and fashion studios, all of which, Meurice said, contributes to the Lower East Side’s heterogeneous art scene. —Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 24 Dec. 2024

Prudent foreign policy requires Washington to manage its extensive and heterogeneous security commitments and global relationships carefully. —Alexander Cooley, Foreign Affairs, 18 Oct. 2015

Beatles for Sale was recorded quickly between U.S. and U.K. tours, and the unusually heterogeneous album stuffs raucous Chuck Berry and Little Richard covers into a set of originals that reflected the influence of Nashville and Bob Dylan. —Al Shipley, SPIN, 4 Dec. 2024

López Obrador could follow this lead, using outlays to solidify his heterogeneous partisan base and to build a broader legislative or even constitutional coalition for change. —Shannon K. O'Neil, Foreign Affairs, 2 July 2018

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin heterogeneus (borrowed from Greek heterogenḗs "of different kinds," from hetero- hetero- + -genēs, adjective derivative of génos "ancestry, race, class, kind") + -ous — more at kin entry 1

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

heterogeneous

adjective

het·​er·​o·​ge·​neous

ˌhet-ə-rə-ˈjē-nē-əs,

-nyəs

: differing in kind : consisting of dissimilar parts : mixed

a heterogeneous population

heterogeneously adverb

heterogeneousness noun

Medical Definition

heterogeneous

adjective

het·​ero·​ge·​neous ˌhet-ə-rə-ˈjē-nē-əs, ˌhe-trə-, -nyəs 

: not uniform in structure or composition

tumors which have a heterogeneous composition by reason of structure and presence of necrosis

—Year Book of Endocrinology

heterogeneously adverb