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

Examples of inhomogeneity in a Sentence

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

Both superfluids and superconductors show their properties in real materials that invariably contain impurities and inhomogeneities. —IEEE Spectrum, 21 June 2011

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for inhomogeneity

• contemporaneity
• heterogeneity
• deity
• homogeneity
• simultaneity
• spontaneity

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