heterogeneity

noun

het·​ero·​ge·​ne·​i·​ty ˌhe-tə-rō-jə-ˈnē-ə-tē How to pronounce heterogeneity (audio)
ˌhe-trō-
: the quality or state of consisting of dissimilar or diverse elements : the quality or state of being heterogeneous
cultural heterogeneity

Examples of heterogeneity in a Sentence

the cultural heterogeneity of its residents is a point of pride for the city
Recent Examples on the Web The notion of centrally orchestrated propaganda seemed to contradict the essence of what the United States was seeking to promote: namely, liberal institutions, creative liberties, cultural heterogeneity, and unfettered freedom of thought. Suzanne Nossel, Foreign Affairs, 29 Feb. 2024 The heterogeneity of every individual gets lost and distorted, with the result that democratic systems often barely reflect the will of the people and tend toward polarization. TIME, 5 Feb. 2024 There was a point when heterogeneity was one of the sport’s great pleasures, rather than a tendency that belongs to a distant past. Rory Smith, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2024 Research from Frontiers in Psychology highlights the vast heterogeneity of synesthetic experiences, ranging from auditory, tactile and visual stimuli triggering colors, shapes and even flavors. Mark Travers, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023 Our older politicians may have a more diverse profile of health conditions than their younger colleagues because of the heterogeneity of aging. Anna Chodos, STAT, 4 Oct. 2023 If these pictures appear to have little in common beyond Dillon’s predilection for them, their heterogeneity is in part his point. Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 20 Apr. 2023 According to Ross Dawson and Steve Bynghall, crowdsourcing is a participative online activity in which the organization proposes to a group of individuals of varying knowledge, heterogeneity and number, via an open call, to voluntarily undertake tasks solving current problems. Albana Vrioni, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2022 Though there is heterogeneity in practice workflow, in general, oncologists traditionally see patients only after the formal diagnosis has been made, and thus play a limited role in the tumultuous period preceding a cancer diagnosis. Samyukta Mullangi and Vinayak Venkataraman, STAT, 31 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heterogeneity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see heterogeneous

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heterogeneity was in 1641

Dictionary Entries Near heterogeneity

Cite this Entry

“Heterogeneity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heterogeneity. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

heterogeneity

noun
het·​ero·​ge·​ne·​ity ˌhet-ə-rō-jə-ˈnē-ət-ē, ˌhe-trō- How to pronounce heterogeneity (audio)
plural heterogeneities
: the quality or state of being heterogeneous

More from Merriam-Webster on heterogeneity

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