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

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

At a more basic level, maps of protein expression in Alzheimer’s patients could help researchers better capture the disease’s heterogeneity. —Rohan Rajeev, STAT, 28 June 2024

Rainbow Cone might be the apex, with refreshing orange sorbet at the top, the Palmer House flavor adding heterogeneity through cherries and walnuts in the middle, and a solid chocolate base. —Kayla Samoy, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2024

The two distinguishing aspects of Hondo’s work are heterogeneity and rhetoric. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 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