diversity

noun

di·​ver·​si·​ty də-ˈvər-sə-tē How to pronounce diversity (audio)
dī-
plural diversities
1
: the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : variety
especially : the inclusion of people of different races (see race entry 1 sense 1a), cultures, etc. in a group or organization
programs intended to promote diversity in schools
see also diversity, equity and inclusion
2
: an instance of being composed of differing elements or qualities : an instance of being diverse
a diversity of opinion

Examples of diversity in a Sentence

Another factor in Burns' rise has been the strength and depth of Xerox's commitment to diversity. One-third of Xerox's 3,819 executives are women and 22% are minorities. Nanette Byrnes et al., Business Week, 8 June 2009
Jim, a lanky, bearded 35-year-old, knows a lot about heirloom fruits and vegetables. He works with the Southern Seed Legacy in Athens, Georgia, an organization devoted to preserving the seeds of heirloom plants in order to restore some of the genetic diversity that industrial agriculture has eroded over the years. Gary Paul Nabhan, Saveur, October 2009
Even more eccentric is the treatment of the British Empire. Stretching over three centuries and six continents, you might have expected that its extent, duration, and diversity would have made it immune to facile interpretation. David Gilmour, New York Review, 2 Nov. 2006
The media flood the nation's editorial markets with testimonies to the piebald character of the American democracy jumbled together from a wonderful diversity of colors, creeds, and cultural dispensations, which is a swell story, but in the United States Senate not one visible to the naked eye. Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, March 2005
The handsome creatures have hooked the interest of evolutionists and ecologists because of their dazzling diversity of shapes, behaviors, and feeding habits, which include nibbling the fins and scales of other fish. Science, 26 Nov. 2004
The island has more diversity in plant life than other islands nearby. The city is known for its cultural diversity. The school aims for diversity in its student population.
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.
And the spectre of government investigations loomed large, as the Trump administration cracked down on schools with LGBTQ-inclusive policies and diversity programs. Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025 Suspecting the delay was related to references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the grant materials, Filippelli and his team revised the language, but the project was still terminated a few weeks later. Lluvia Gaucin, IndyStar, 26 Aug. 2025 In the current political climate, the phrase 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' has come under fire. Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025 The diversity, dancing and fashion has helped the ad go viral at a time when there’s been debate about how companies are relating to their customer base. Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for diversity

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dyversite "difference, separateness, variety," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French diverseté, diversité, borrowed from Latin dīversitāt-, dīversitās "separateness, condition of being different, difference of opinion," from dīversus "turned in different directions, situated apart, differing" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at diverse

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of diversity was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Diversity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diversity. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

diversity

noun
di·​ver·​si·​ty də-ˈvər-sət-ē How to pronounce diversity (audio)
dī-
plural diversities
1
: the condition of being different
2
: an instance or a point of difference

Legal Definition

diversity

noun
di·​ver·​si·​ty də-ˈvər-sə-tē, dī- How to pronounce diversity (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on diversity

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