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
The diversity of hormone function, from milk to mood, hunger to height, does not occur through the action of any single part of our anatomy.
—Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
The high-fiber diet, by contrast, increased gut microbial diversity and enhanced the capacity of gut bacteria to break down carbohydrates but did not produce significant short-term changes in systemic inflammation.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
Top colleges set their sights on socioeconomic diversity after the Supreme Court’s ban on Affirmative Action affected a shift in campus demographics.
—Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Trump aims to stop tracking corporate diversity How diverse is corporate America?
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for diversity
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
The high-fiber diet, by contrast, increased gut microbial diversity and enhanced the capacity of gut bacteria to break down carbohydrates but did not produce significant short-term changes in systemic inflammation.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026
Top colleges set their sights on socioeconomic diversity after the Supreme Court’s ban on Affirmative Action affected a shift in campus demographics.
—Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Trump aims to stop tracking corporate diversity How diverse is corporate America?
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 20 May 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 21 May. 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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