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

Right now, there are two muni-bond CEFs out there that offer a good way to diversify away from stocks. —Michael Foster, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024

Mexico is rich with critical minerals needed for the energy transition—including lithium and copper—and the country is seen as a potential partner to the U.S., which is trying to diversify its supply chain away from China. —Justin Worland / Mexico City, TIME, 19 Oct. 2024

That provides a strong incentive to central banks around the world keep diversifying their reserves away from U.S. debt and toward gold, BofA added. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2024

Accor’s new Orient Express lines will compete with Belmond’s Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which continues to diversify its European itineraries. —Jd Shadel, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2024

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

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