inhomogeneity

noun

in·​ho·​mo·​ge·​ne·​i·​ty (ˌ)in-ˌhō-mə-jə-ˈnē-ə-tē  -ˈnā- 

 also nonstandard  -ˈnī-;

 especially British  -ˌhä-mə-

plural inhomogeneities

1

: the condition or an instance of not being homogeneous

2

: a part that is not homogeneous with the larger uniform mass in which it occurs

especially : a localized collection of matter in the universe

inhomogeneous

(ˌ)in-ˌhō-mə-ˈjē-nē-əs 

-nyəs

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

At that time, various physicists, including Hawking, were trying to patch up a serious problem (too much inhomogeneity) in Guth’s original inflation theory. —Alan Lightman, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

inhomogeneity

noun

in·​ho·​mo·​ge·​ne·​ity

ˌin-ˌhō-mə-jə-ˈnē-ət-ē, -ˈnā-; especially British -ˌhäm-ə-

plural inhomogeneities

: lack of homogeneity

inhomogeneous

ˌin-ˌhō-mə-ˈjē-nē-əs 

adjective