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

The Trump administration frames this change as a means to enhance retirement security by diversifying investments, creating a narrative that is linked to both economic growth and fairness. —Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

While tribal casinos throughout the U.S. have rebounded since the pandemic and are reporting their largest revenues ever, advocates are stressing the need for tribes to diversify their income. —Frank Vaisvilas, jsonline.com, 6 Aug. 2025

While India has diversified its oil sources over the years, cutting out Russian oil entirely would leave a gaping hole that’s hard to replace. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025

The seeds of research and innovation were planted back then, while its pioneering approach was expressed in the ‘60s, when Marvin expanded its scope to diversify into cosmetics — a decision received with skepticism, since at the time cosmetics were seen as less noble products. —Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 5 Aug. 2025

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
• areolae
• demystify
• detoxify
• disqualify
• electrify
• exemplify
• fasciculi
• identify
• indemnify
• intensify

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