differentiation

noun dif·fer·en·ti·a·tion \ -ˌren(t)-shē-ˈā-shən \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of differentiation

1 : the act or process of differentiating

2 : development from the one to the many, the simple to the complex, or the homogeneous to the heterogeneous

differentiation of Latin into vernaculars

3 biology

a : modification of body parts for performance of particular functions

b : the sum of the processes whereby apparently indifferent (see indifferent 7) or unspecialized cells, tissues, and structures attain their adult form and function

4 geology : the processes by which various rock types are produced from a common magma

See differentiation defined for kids

Recent Examples of differentiation from the Web

Jason Del Rey: What is the long term differentiation of that business to consumers?

— recode staff, Recode, "Full video and transcript: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi at Code 2018," 31 May 2018
But with the spiders, there isn’t any additional differentiation during each bout of diversification.

— julissa treviño, Smithsonian, "These Curious Spiders Evolved the Same Way Over and Over and Over Again," 12 Mar. 2018
The distinguishing factor of a musci moss is the clear differentiation between their leaves and stems.

— kevin espiritu for partselect.com, Good Housekeeping, "How And Why You Should Try Growing Moss In Your Garden," 29 Aug. 2017
There’s a clear differentiation and an element in gambling that isn’t in fantasy sports.

— kathleen gray, Detroit Free Press, "Betting on sports will at least get a vote in the Michigan Legislature," 18 May 2018
That’s not differentiation that you can get paid for today in that business.

— andrew nusca, Fortune, "More Than Half of Companies Aren't Prepared to Use Today's Top Technologies," 1 May 2018
There has to be a slight differentiation between the royal family and us regular folk.

— sarah spellings, The Cut, "Meghan Markle Wears Non-Fascinator Hat to Memorial Services," 25 Apr. 2018
DoorDash, which was founded in 2013, has created some differentiation from competitors by striking delivery deals with more than 50 of the top 100 restaurant chains, including Wendy’s and the Cheesecake Factory.

— jason del rey, Recode, "Postmates and DoorDash have discussed a merger to fend off Uber, GrubHub and Amazon," 6 Apr. 2018
Memory chips are considered commodities with little differentiation among them, making competition notoriously brutal, and marked by boom and bust cycles.

— klint finley, WIRED, "How a Boise Company Thrives in the Global Chip Business," 23 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'differentiation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of differentiation

borrowed from New Latin differentiātiōn-, differentiātiō, from Medieval Latin differentiāre "to distinguish, differentiate" + Latin -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1776

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Biology Terms

autochthonous, fecund, homunculus, phylogeny, substrate

DIFFERENTIATION Defined for Kids

differentiation

noun dif·fer·en·ti·a·tion \ ˌdi-fə-ˌren-shē-ˈā-shən \

Definition of differentiation for Students

: the process of change by which immature living structures develop to maturity

Medical Dictionary

differentiation

noun dif·fer·en·ti·a·tion \ -ˌren-chē-ˈā-shən \

medical Definition of differentiation

1 a : the act of describing a thing by giving its differentia

b : the enhancement of microscopically visible differences between tissue or cell parts by partial selective decolorization or removal of excess stain (as in regressive staining)

c : the development of a discriminating conditioned response with a positive response to one stimulus and absence of the response on the application of similar but discriminably different stimuli

2 a : modification of different parts of the body for performance of particular functions; also : specialization of parts or organs in the course of evolution

b : the sum of the developmental processes whereby apparently unspecialized cells, tissues, and structures attain their adult form and function — compare determination 2