diverse

1 of 2

adjective

di·​verse dī-ˈvərs 

də-ˈvərs, 

ˈdī-ˌvərs

1

: differing from one another : unlike

people with diverse interests

2

: composed of distinct or unlike elements or qualities

a diverse population

diversely adverb

diverseness noun

diverseness

2 of 2

noun

di·​verse·​ness

plural -es

: diversity

Synonyms of diverse

Adjective

• different
• distinctive
• distinct
• varied

Choose the Right Synonym for diverse

different, diverse, divergent, disparate, various mean unlike in kind or character.

different may imply little more than separateness but it may also imply contrast or contrariness.

different foods

diverse implies both distinctness and marked contrast.

such diverse interests as dancing and football

divergent implies movement away from each other and unlikelihood of ultimate meeting or reconciliation.

went on to pursue divergent careers

disparate emphasizes incongruity or incompatibility.

disparate notions of freedom

various stresses the number of sorts or kinds.

tried various methods

Examples of diverse in a Sentence

Adjective

We can adapt to new problems in ways that other species cannot. It is this ability that enabled our ancestors to spread over the globe, displacing other hominids and many other species along the way. Our cultures and individual behaviors are so successfully diverse that humans are more like an entire ecosystem than a single species. —Barbara Oakley, Evil Genes, (2007) 2008

Since the methods and policies of the Spaniards on the edges of empire varied over time and place, and the indigenous tribes and peoples with whom they came into contact were almost endlessly diverse, Weber was faced with the daunting challenge of writing a book that was at the same time comprehensive and comprehensible. —J. H. Elliott, New York Review of Books, 23 Feb. 2006

The place is packed at both lunch and dinner. The crowd, always a diverse blend of athletes and fans, cops and criminals, showbiz and fashion, appears as heterogeneous as ever. —Eric Asimov, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2003

Many students, from campuses diverse as Bushwick High School in Brooklyn, New York, and Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, had classmates sign cards pledging to vote for "books, not bombs." —Liza Featherstone, Nation, 4/11 Aug. 2003

His message appealed to a diverse audience.

a diverse group of subjects

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In 2026, 78% of eligible charters earned an A or B grade on their state school report card, compared to 76% of district schools, while serving equally diverse student demographics and providing Florida’s families with innovative school models. — Thibaut Delloue, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026

Bats are incredibly diverse—across all mammals, bats include more species than all but one other group, rodents, says Rachel Page, a scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 28 Oct. 2026

Designed for diverse naval platforms BAE Systems envisions the ADL supporting operations across aircraft carriers, amphibious ships, and other surface combatants. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026

Voters must also agree, on an honor system, to watch every film in a category before casting a ballot, while the Academy spotlights emerging, diverse and international filmmakers on its social channels and in the museum. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English divers, diverse "differing, distinct, of various kinds, several," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French divers, diverse, deverce, borrowed from Latin dīversus "turned in different directions, situated apart, differing," from past participle of dīvertere "to separate oneself (from), be different, diverge" — more at divert

Noun

Middle English diversenes, from diverse + -nes -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for diverse

• adverse
• averse
• coerce
• disburse
• disperse
• immerse
• inverse
• obverse
• perverse
• rehearse
• reverse
• transverse

Kids Definition

diverse

adjective

di·​verse dī-ˈvərs 

də-, 

ˈdī-ˌvərs

1

: differing from one another : unlike

2

: composed of distinct or unlike elements or qualities

a diverse population

diversely adverb

diverseness noun

Legal Definition

diverse

adjective

di·​verse

: differing from one another

specifically : differing in citizenship from another party to an action

a diverse defendant

see also diversity jurisdiction at jurisdiction compare nondiverse