dif·fer·ent
ˈdi-f(ə-)rənt 
ˈdi-fərnt
1
: partly or totally unlike in nature, form, or quality : dissimilar
could hardly be more different
—often followed by from, than, or chiefly British to… small, neat hand, very different from the captain's tottery characters …—
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevensonvastly different in size than it was twenty-five years ago—N. M. Pusey
N. M. Puseya very different situation to the … one under which we live—Sir Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill2
differentness
noun
Is it different than or different from?: Usage Guide
Different is commonly followed by than or from.
Our house is different from the others on our street.
The movie was different than I expected.
Despite some opposition in the past, both different from and different than are standard and have been in use since the 15th and 17th century, respectively. Different than is more common for introducing a sentence part that has its own subject and verb because using different from requires more words.
I had a different experience than you did. = I had a different experience from the one you had.
Overall, however, different from is more common.
Examples of different in a Sentence
Adjective
The two brothers could not have been more different.
We need to try an entirely different approach.
They met with each other on several different occasions.
advertising that tries to be different
That movie certainly was different.
He has a very different style of dressing.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Nov. 2025
First significantly introduced during the pandemic, many of the films and schedule of SFF ’26 will be available online from January 29–February 1, 2026, for film fans to see – which is kinda keeping in step with the access to art philosophy of Robert Redford, a fitting tribute of a different sort.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2025
While Mel and Peg are still together, a source told The Sun in a report published the day of The Golden Bachelor Season 2 finale that Mel and Peg already have issues in their relationship due to their different personalities.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 12 Nov. 2025
That’s different than saying HRT can protect all women from heart disease.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for different
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Anyone that has experienced a tragic loss knows that the grieving process is different for everybody, and that includes Kneeland’s Cowboys teammates.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Nov. 2025
First significantly introduced during the pandemic, many of the films and schedule of SFF ’26 will be available online from January 29–February 1, 2026, for film fans to see – which is kinda keeping in step with the access to art philosophy of Robert Redford, a fitting tribute of a different sort.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2025
While Mel and Peg are still together, a source told The Sun in a report published the day of The Golden Bachelor Season 2 finale that Mel and Peg already have issues in their relationship due to their different personalities.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 12 Nov. 2025
That’s different than saying HRT can protect all women from heart disease.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 12 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for different
Cite this Entry
“Different.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/different. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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