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Definition of different

different

/ˈdɪf.əɹ.ənt/
dif · fer · ent
Adverb:differently
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different Lexical Profile

different Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Not the same as another or each other; unlike in nature, form, or quality.

Example

"The two brothers have completely different personalities and interests."

2

Distinct; separate; not the one previously mentioned or implied.

Example

"We ended up taking three different trains to reach the coastal village."

3

Novel and unusual; standing out from the ordinary or conventional.

Example

"She wanted to try something different for her birthday dinner this year."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

In formal and academic writing, 'different from' is generally preferred over 'different than' (common in American English) and 'different to' (common in British English).

• Rhymes for different

• Nearby Words

dietitian
differ
difference
different
differential
differentially
differentiate

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French 'different', from Latin 'differentem', the present participle of 'differre' ('to set apart, differ'), formed from 'dis-' ('apart') and 'ferre' ('to carry').

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Different. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/different
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