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 noun

diversity programs/efforts

a diversity committee

see also diversity, equity and inclusion

Synonyms of diversity

• variety
• diverseness
• heterogeneity
• multiplicity

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

Massive novel diversity Resting up to 6,000 meters (19,700 feet) deep in the Pacific Ocean between Mexico and Hawaii, the Clarion-Clipperton Zone is strewn with millions of potato-sized metallic rocks. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

There is enough spending power on the east side to support more commercial diversity, the Greater Meadowbrook Alliance argues. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026

The Mediterranean diet has been hailed as one of the healthiest styles of eating for longevity and lower disease risk, and boy kibble does stray from the method in its heavy reliance on animal proteins and low diversity of plants, Mulvihill said. — Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

The district received an A in sports, with A- grades in administration, college preparedness, diversity, extracurriculars and teachers. — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2026

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

Phrases Containing diversity

• diversity, equity, and inclusion

Rhymes for diversity

• adversity
• perversity
• biodiversity
• polydispersity
• university

Kids 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- 

: diversity of citizenship