diversity
noun
di·ver·si·ty
də-ˈvər-sə-tē 
dī-
plural diversities
1
a
: the quality or condition of having or being composed of differing elements (such as forms, types, or ideas) : variety sense 1
linguistic diversity
an island with great diversity in plant life
There's a diversity of opinion on the matter.
b
: a group or collection of differing elements : variety sense 2
She has a diversity of interests.
saw a diversity of shorebirds at the park
2
: the state or practice of including people of different races (see race entry 1 sense 1a), cultures, etc. in a group or organization
promoting diversity in the workplace
—often used before another noundiversity programs/efforts
a diversity committee
see also diversity, equity and inclusion
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.
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
New 2026 itineraries reflect the growing diversity of Arctic travel.
—Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Aziel Quezada, an 11th grader at Austin ISD’s Liberal Arts and Sciences Academy, told the board there isn’t enough diversity in the authors the list includes.
—Silas Allen, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Cornell and Target pledged to take action in support of diversity and inclusion as the Black Lives Matter movement gained steam across the country in the wake of Floyd's death.
—Hugh Son,melissa Repko, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
Take a second to learn about the sea otters that can be seen along the state's coastline or the ocean's kelp forests, a bedrock to eco-diversity in the Pacific Ocean.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for diversity
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Aziel Quezada, an 11th grader at Austin ISD’s Liberal Arts and Sciences Academy, told the board there isn’t enough diversity in the authors the list includes.
—Silas Allen, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Cornell and Target pledged to take action in support of diversity and inclusion as the Black Lives Matter movement gained steam across the country in the wake of Floyd's death.
—Hugh Son,melissa Repko, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
Take a second to learn about the sea otters that can be seen along the state's coastline or the ocean's kelp forests, a bedrock to eco-diversity in the Pacific Ocean.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for diversity
Cite this Entry
“Diversity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diversity. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
diversity
noun
di·ver·si·ty
də-ˈvər-sət-ē
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-
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