difference
difference
noun
OPAL W OPAL S
/ˈdɪfrəns/
1 countable, uncountable the way in which two people or things are not like each other; the way in which somebody/something has changed
Americans and Brits speak the same language, but there are big cultural differences.
difference between A and B There are no significant differences between the education systems of the two countries.
He was studying the similarities and differences between humans and animals.
I can never tell the difference (= distinguish) between the twins.
difference in something There's no difference in the results.
There is a fundamental difference in approach to conservation in Japan.
She noticed a marked difference in the children on her second visit.
Her work questions notions of gender difference.
What a difference! You look great with your hair like that.
difference among something Differences among beetle species may prove to be a key factor.
despite differences Despite their differences, the two are great friends.
OPPOSITE similarity
Language Bank contrast
TOPICS Opinion and argument A1
SEE ALSO limb difference
Collocations
adjective
bigbroadconsiderable…
verb + difference
makemeanemphasize…
difference + verb
beliearise (from something)…
preposition
difference amongdifference betweendifference from…
phrases
a… with a differenceall the difference in the worlda great deal of difference…
2 singular, uncountable the amount that something is greater or smaller than something else
difference in something We measured the difference in temperature.
difference between A and B The difference between the two numbers gives you the profit.
There's an age difference of six years between the boys (= one is six years older than the other).
difference in something between A and B There is not much difference in price between the two brands.
I'll lend you £500 and you'll have to find the difference (= the rest of the money that you need).
SEE ALSO goal difference
Collocations
verb + difference
paymake uppocket…
3 ​countable a disagreement between people
We have our differences, but she's still my sister.
Why don't you settle your differences and be friends again?
There was a difference of opinion over who had won.
TOPICS Opinion and argument C1
Collocations
adjective
irreconcilablemajorserious…
verb + difference
havemake uppatch up…
difference + verb
ariseemergeoccur…
preposition
difference as todifference over
phrases
a difference of opinionhave your differences
Idioms
bury the hatchet | bury your differences
a distinction without a difference
make all the difference (to somebody/something)
make a, no, some, etc. difference (to somebody/to something/in something)
same difference
sink your differences
split the difference
with a difference
a/the world of difference
Word Origin
Middle English: via Old French from Latin differentia ‘difference’, from different- ‘carrying away’, from the verb differre, from dis- ‘from, away’ + ferre ‘bring, carry’.