diversify

verb

di·​ver·​si·​fy də-ˈvər-sə-ˌfī 

dī-

diversified; diversifying

transitive verb

1

: to make diverse or composed of unlike elements : give variety to

diversify a course of study

2

: to balance (an investment portfolio) defensively by dividing funds among securities (see security sense 3) of different industries or of different classes

diversify your investments

3

: to increase the variety of the products of

diversify the company

intransitive verb

1

: to produce variety

encouraging farmers to diversify

2

: to engage in varied operations

diversifying into online services

diversifier

də-ˈvər-sə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

dī-

noun

Examples of diversify in a Sentence

The country is diversifying its energy sources.

farmers who want to diversify their crops

The new CEO's chief aim is to diversify the company.

The company needs to diversify.

Many publishing companies have diversified into online services.

Recent Examples on the Web

Since its launch, the company has diversified into logistics, fuel delivery, and transport, including hauling containers from Cuban ports to different provinces. — Rick Jervis, USA Today, 1 July 2026

But China’s ability to diversify its energy supply and tap into emergency reserves has given it strategic advantages in an otherwise widely disruptive crisis, The Asia Group said. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 1 July 2026

Eadie emphasized the importance of diversifying the region’s tourism base through sports, festivals and events to generate tourism revenue. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026

Some experts and students also worry that the limits will threaten efforts to diversify the healthcare workforce by deterring minorities and people from low-income households from applying to graduate programs. — Lauren Sausser, CBS News, 30 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dyversefyen "to change, vary," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French diversefier, diversifier "to change, vary, be variable, be different," borrowed from Medieval Latin dīversificāre "to differentiate, differ, disagree, be at variance," verbal derivative of Late Latin dīversificus "varied," from Latin dīversus "turned in different directions, differing" + -i- -i- + -ficus -fic — more at diverse

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for diversify

• acidify
• alveoli
• antinomy
• areolae
• demystify
• detoxify
• disqualify
• electrify
• exemplify
• fasciculi
• identify
• indemnify

Kids Definition

diversify

verb

di·​ver·​si·​fy də-ˈvər-sə-ˌfī 

dī-

diversified; diversifying

1

: to make diverse : give variety to

2

: to increase the variety of products of

diversify a business

diversification

-ˌvər-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

noun