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 entry 1

an ethnically heterogeneous population

compare homogeneous

heterogeneously adverb

heterogeneousness noun

Synonyms of heterogeneous

• eclectic
• varied
• mixed
• diverse
• assorted

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

The difficult step is mixing different machines According to SCMP, CETC describes the ultimate objective as a heterogeneous, all-domain swarm, in which different uncrewed platforms can cooperate across air, land and sea. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026

The mathematical universe is boundless and heterogeneous, encompassing, over here, truths about numbers and equations; there, the logic of shapes and spaces; and over there, the study of change and probability. — Quanta Magazine, 9 Sep. 2026

One answer to this mismatch is heterogeneous AI, an architecture that uses accelerators from different sources or vendors in one central cluster. — Ido Susan, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Older adults are more heterogeneous than people in younger age groups in terms of chronic conditions and multiple medications, Chen says, which can pose challenges with both prescriptions and side effects. — Liz Seegert, Scientific American, 19 July 2026

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

Rhymes for heterogeneous

• arsenious
• ingenious
• genius

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