differentiation

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

Updated on: 12 Apr 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

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
Much of the novel comes in a stream-of-consciousness style known as erlebte Rede, a cinematic barrage of impressions and thoughts recalled without explanation or differentiation.

— The Economist, "The real resonances, and warnings, of Weimar Germany," 8 Mar. 2018
In general, the guidelines, including the differentiation between states in Mexico, for example, are a reflection of the restrictions that United States government personnel in the country adhere to.

— stephanie rosenbloom, New York Times, "New Country Rankings Aim to Help Travelers Choose Safe Destinations," 19 Jan. 2018
Eating them can lead to: Better immunity: Vitamin A also helps with other bodily functions, including cellular communication, growth, and differentiation.

— caroline walder, Good Housekeeping, "Sweet Potatoes Are Officially One of the Best Carbs You Can Eat," 5 Mar. 2018
The lesson says that weightlessness—that lightness of bits—demands care and differentiation, not chaos or unconcern.

— ian bogost, The Atlantic, "The Cute Robot That Follows You Around the City," 28 Feb. 2018
There won’t be many teams in the bubble discussion that can show off wins of that caliber and that gives the Huskies a key point of differentiation.

— michael beller, SI.com, "Bubble Watch: Lots at Stake for Fringe Teams in Final Regular Season, Conference Tourney Games," 27 Feb. 2018
The line of differentiation between the masses and the Remnant is set invariably by quality, not by circumstance.

— jeet heer, New Republic, "The Case for “Retreatism” in the Trump Era," 15 Feb. 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

see ¹different

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1776

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