heterogeneity

noun

het·​ero·​ge·​ne·​i·​ty ˌhe-tə-rō-jə-ˈnē-ə-tē 

ˌhe-trō-

: the quality or state of consisting of dissimilar or diverse elements : the quality or state of being heterogeneous

cultural heterogeneity

Synonyms

• assortment
• diverseness
• diversity
• heterogeneousness
• manifoldness
• miscellaneousness
• multifariousness
• multiplicity
• variety
• variousness

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

Thus, researchers can use the mosaic to understand the behavior of individual cells and define the impact of cancer heterogeneity on the development of effective treatments. —Amelia Palermo, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

Accounting for sampling heterogeneity suggests a low palaeolatitude origin for dinosaurs. —John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025

Developing The Drugs Of Tomorrow The heterogeneity of diseases calls for a diverse range of medicines. —Max Votek, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024

The rationale behind this heterogeneity is to avoid such a policy's uneven incidence on households at different income levels. —Simi Thambi​, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin heterogeneitāt-, heterogeneitās, from heterogeneus heterogeneous + Latin -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heterogeneity

• contemporaneity
• inhomogeneity
• deity
• homogeneity
• simultaneity
• spontaneity

Medical Definition

heterogeneity

noun

het·​ero·​ge·​ne·​ity ˌhet-ə-rō-jə-ˈnē-ət-ē, ˌhe-trō- 

plural heterogeneities

: the quality or state of being heterogeneous