diversity

noun

di·​ver·​si·​ty də-ˈvər-sə-tē How to pronounce diversity (audio)
dī-
plural diversities
1
: the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : variety
especially : the inclusion of people of different races (see race entry 1 sense 1a), cultures, etc. in a group or organization
programs intended to promote diversity in schools
see also diversity, equity and inclusion
2
: an instance of being composed of differing elements or qualities : an instance of being diverse
a diversity of opinion

Examples of diversity in a Sentence

Another factor in Burns' rise has been the strength and depth of Xerox's commitment to diversity. One-third of Xerox's 3,819 executives are women and 22% are minorities. Nanette Byrnes et al., Business Week, 8 June 2009
Jim, a lanky, bearded 35-year-old, knows a lot about heirloom fruits and vegetables. He works with the Southern Seed Legacy in Athens, Georgia, an organization devoted to preserving the seeds of heirloom plants in order to restore some of the genetic diversity that industrial agriculture has eroded over the years. Gary Paul Nabhan, Saveur, October 2009
Even more eccentric is the treatment of the British Empire. Stretching over three centuries and six continents, you might have expected that its extent, duration, and diversity would have made it immune to facile interpretation. David Gilmour, New York Review, 2 Nov. 2006
The media flood the nation's editorial markets with testimonies to the piebald character of the American democracy jumbled together from a wonderful diversity of colors, creeds, and cultural dispensations, which is a swell story, but in the United States Senate not one visible to the naked eye. Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, March 2005
The handsome creatures have hooked the interest of evolutionists and ecologists because of their dazzling diversity of shapes, behaviors, and feeding habits, which include nibbling the fins and scales of other fish. Science, 26 Nov. 2004
The island has more diversity in plant life than other islands nearby. The city is known for its cultural diversity. The school aims for diversity in its student population.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Some civil rights groups have threatened to boycott companies that retreat from diversity initiatives. Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025 The act of censorship comes as Trump administration’s calls for only male and female genders to be recognized, and the cancelation of all national diversity, equity, and inclusion programs (DEI). The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 14 Feb. 2025 The move is part of a broader effort at the House of Mouse to change its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, amid the Trump Administration’s targeting of DEI programs in the government. Bruce Gil, Quartz, 13 Feb. 2025 These are orders that directly impact all federal organizations and have, for instance, compelled the space agency to end initiatives focused on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives as well as scrub its websites of information relating to the topic. Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for diversity 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dyversite "difference, separateness, variety," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French diverseté, diversité, borrowed from Latin dīversitāt-, dīversitās "separateness, condition of being different, difference of opinion," from dīversus "turned in different directions, situated apart, differing" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at diverse

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of diversity was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near diversity

Cite this Entry

“Diversity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diversity. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

diversity

noun
di·​ver·​si·​ty də-ˈvər-sət-ē How to pronounce diversity (audio)
dī-
plural diversities
1
: the condition of being different
2
: an instance or a point of difference

Legal Definition

diversity

noun
di·​ver·​si·​ty də-ˈvər-sə-tē, dī- How to pronounce diversity (audio)

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