heterogeneous

adjective

het·​ero·​ge·​neous ˌhe-tə-rə-ˈjēn-yəs 

ˌhe-trə-,

-ˈjē-nē-əs

: consisting of dissimilar or diverse ingredients or constituents : mixed

an ethnically heterogeneous population

heterogeneously adverb

heterogeneousness noun

Synonyms

• eclectic
• varied
• mixed
• diverse
• assorted

Examples of heterogeneous in a Sentence

the seating in the hall was a heterogeneous collection of old school desk chairs, wood and metal folding chairs, and even a few plush theater seats

Recent Examples on the Web

In the four highest-achieving nations on PISA rankings—Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and Estonia—mathematics is taught in heterogeneous classrooms, with no tracking prior to 10th grade. —Linda Darling-Hammond, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025

Within the first few days after the injury, a blastema—a mass of heterogeneous cells—formed at the wound site. —Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2025

The heterogeneous environment creates security gaps that require comprehensive solutions beyond the OS layer. —Antonio Sanchez, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

Additionally, the study’s findings advocate strongly for the protection and restoration of heterogeneous landscapes that maintain connectivity between forest and grasslands, thereby allowing native insects to move around between these natural habitats. —Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin heterogeneus (borrowed from Greek heterogenḗs "of different kinds," from hetero- hetero- + -genēs, adjective derivative of génos "ancestry, race, class, kind") + -ous — more at kin entry 1

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heterogeneous

• arsenious
• ingenious
• genius

Kids Definition

heterogeneous

adjective

het·​er·​o·​ge·​neous

ˌhet-ə-rə-ˈjē-nē-əs,

-nyəs

: differing in kind : consisting of dissimilar parts : mixed

a heterogeneous population

heterogeneously adverb

heterogeneousness noun

Medical Definition

heterogeneous

adjective

het·​ero·​ge·​neous ˌhet-ə-rə-ˈjē-nē-əs, ˌhe-trə-, -nyəs 

: not uniform in structure or composition

tumors which have a heterogeneous composition by reason of structure and presence of necrosis

—Year Book of Endocrinology

heterogeneously adverb