diversify

verb

di·​ver·​si·​fy də-ˈvər-sə-ˌfī How to pronounce diversify (audio)
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 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
At least seek to diversify across asset classes. Steve Booren, Denver Post, 21 Sep. 2025 The drone deliveries will roll out in pilot markets before the end of this year and are part of a broader push to diversify the company's delivery capabilities beyond human couriers, vehicles, and sidewalk robots. Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025 However, McLachlan made a point to diversify the festival’s lineup, adding artists like neo-soul luminary Erykah Badu and hip-hop greats Queen Latifah and Missy Elliott, the latter of whom had never actually toured prior to Lilith. Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025 Dalio urged investors to diversify their assets with around 10% of their portfolio in gold. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for diversify

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of diversify was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Diversify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diversify. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

diversify

verb
di·​ver·​si·​fy də-ˈvər-sə-ˌfī How to pronounce diversify (audio)
dī-
diversified; diversifying
1
: to make diverse : give variety to
2
: to increase the variety of products of
diversify a business
diversification noun

More from Merriam-Webster on diversify

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!