difference

difference — noun

1. a quality or feature that makes one person or thing unlike another, or the state

1.nounA1
Definition

a quality or feature that makes one person or thing unlike another, or the state of being unlike when two things are compared

Example

The main difference between Trang and her cousin is their height.

difference + between + nouns

There is a big difference in price between the two laptop models.

difference + in + noun

Common collocations
  • main difference
  • big difference
  • only difference
  • tell the difference
  • difference between
  • difference in
Synonyms
  • distinction

    more formal, often about subtle or fine differences

  • contrast

    emphasises a clear and often striking opposition between two things

  • variation

    focuses on natural or expected differences within a group or range

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

difference + between + plural noun(s)

difference + in + noun

tell the difference between

Common Mistakes

There is different between them.
There is a difference between them.
'different' is an adjective; 'difference' is the noun form.
What is the different?
What is the difference?
The adjective 'different' is often confused with the noun 'difference' in question forms.

2. a situation in which two or more people have opinions that do not match, often l

2.nounA2
Definition

a situation in which two or more people have opinions that do not match, often leading to a short argument or quarrel

Example

Kasia and her brother had a small difference over which movie to watch.

have a difference over

The neighbours managed to settle their differences after a long talk.

settle your differences

Common collocations
  • have a difference
  • settle differences
  • put aside differences
  • resolve differences
  • difference over
Synonyms
  • disagreement

    more general and slightly less intense than 'difference' in this sense

  • argument

    stronger, more emotionally charged, often involves raised voices

  • dispute

    more formal, often about legal or business matters

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

have a difference (over/about something)

settle/resolve your differences

put aside differences

Usage Note

Often used in the set phrases 'settle your differences,' 'put aside your differences,' or 'have a difference over/about something.'

Common Mistakes

They had difference about money.
They had a difference about money.
Used as a countable noun, so it needs an article.
We made our differences.
We settled our differences.
'Make' is not the natural verb; use 'settle,' 'resolve,' or 'put aside.'

3. a continuing state in which two or more people or groups hold different views, p

3.nounB1
Definition

a continuing state in which two or more people or groups hold different views, preferences, or approaches over a period of time without necessarily having a single argument

Example

Noor and her business partner have their differences, but they still run the company well.

have your differences

The two professors have fundamental differences in their teaching methods.

differences in

Common collocations
  • have your differences
  • creative differences
  • fundamental differences
  • manage differences
  • differences in
Synonyms
  • disagreement

    can be used here too, but 'differences' suggests a longer-term state

  • divergence

    more formal, suggests views moving apart over time

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

have your differences (on/about/in something)

creative/political/personal differences

Usage Note

Almost always used in the plural form 'differences' or the set phrase 'have your differences.' Unlike sense 2, this does not refer to a single quarrel but to an ongoing mismatch of views.

Common Mistakes

They have difference about politics.
They have differences about politics.
This sense is almost always plural.
They have a difference in teaching styles.
They have differences in teaching styles.
Use plural to describe ongoing divergence.

4. how much larger or smaller one number or measurement is when set beside another

4.nounA2
Definition

how much larger or smaller one number or measurement is when set beside another

Example

The difference in temperature between morning and night is about ten degrees.

difference + in [measurement type]

The difference between fifteen and eight is seven.

Common collocations
  • difference of
  • difference in
  • age difference
  • price difference
  • temperature difference
Synonyms
  • gap

    suggests a wider separation, often in scores or amounts

  • margin

    used especially for small differences in competitions, votes, or profits

Antonyms
  • equality

    the state of being equal in amount or number

Grammar Patterns

difference + of + amount

difference + between + numbers/measurements

difference + in + [measurement type]

Usage Note

Countable and often followed by 'of' to specify the amount ('a difference of 20 dollars') or by 'in' to specify the type of measurement ('a difference in age'). In mathematics, 'difference' is the result of subtraction.

Common Mistakes

The difference of temperature is 5 degrees.
The difference in temperature is 5 degrees.
Use 'in' before the type of measurement.
The difference is 5 degrees between them.
The difference between them is 5 degrees.
'Between' introduces the items being compared, not the measurement.

5. an important change or effect that something has on a person, a situation, or th

5.nounB1
Definition

an important change or effect that something has on a person, a situation, or the way things develop

Example

A good teacher can make a huge difference to a child's learning.

make a difference to

It does not make any difference whether we go today or tomorrow.

make any difference

Common collocations
  • make a difference
  • make no difference
  • make all the difference
  • make a real difference
  • make a big difference
Synonyms
  • effect

    a broader word for any result or consequence

  • impact

    stronger, often used for significant or lasting change

Grammar Patterns

make a difference (to/in something)

make no/any/some/all the difference

make a big/huge/real/significant difference

Usage Note

Used almost exclusively in the idiomatic pattern 'make + a/no/some/any/all the + difference.' The object of the effect is introduced by 'to' ('make a difference to someone') and the area by 'in' ('make a difference in someone's life').

Common Mistakes

It doesn't make differences to me.
It doesn't make a difference to me.
This pattern is fixed with a singular noun.
Going early makes difference.
Going early makes a difference.
The noun needs a determiner ('a,' 'no,' 'any,' 'some').
Idioms

make a/no difference

idiom

to have an important effect on someone or something, or to have no effect at all

A warm coat makes a big difference when you walk to school on a cold morning.

It makes no difference to Olivia whether we meet at the cafe or the library.

tell the difference (between)

idiom

to be able to see or understand how two or more things are different from each other

Most people cannot tell the difference between butter and margarine in a cake.

Anjali could not tell the difference between the twins until she heard their voices.

same difference

idiom

used informally to say that two things are basically the same, even though they appear or are named differently

"That is 50 dollars with tax." "54 dollars." "Same difference."

"He said he is a manager, not a supervisor." "Same difference, as far as I can see."

split the difference

idiom

to agree on an amount or solution that is halfway between two suggested positions, especially when discussing a price

You want 100 dollars and I want 60 — let us split the difference and say 80.

Romi offered 900 dollars for the car and the seller wanted 1100, so they split the difference at 1000.

with a difference

idiom

used after a noun to show that something is interesting or unusual in a particular way

This is a cooking class with a difference — we only use ingredients grown within five kilometres.

Soraya runs a bookshop with a difference: every shelf is organised by colour, not by author.

a world of difference

idiom

used to emphasise that two things are extremely different from each other

There is a world of difference between knowing the rules of a language and actually speaking it fluently.

Fresh bread and supermarket bread — there is a world of difference in taste and texture.

bury the hatchet | bury your differences

idiom

To end a disagreement and become friendly again.

After years of arguing, the two neighbors finally buried the hatchet.

Can you and your sister bury your differences and work together?

a distinction without a difference

idiom

A claimed difference that is not real or meaningful.

Calling it a 'fee' instead of a 'tax' is a distinction without a difference.

The manager's new rule seemed a distinction without a difference to the staff.

make all the difference (to somebody/something)

idiom

To have a very important and positive effect on someone or something.

A good teacher can make all the difference to a student's success.

Adding fresh herbs made all the difference to the soup's flavor.

sink your differences

idiom

To agree to forget about disagreements in order to achieve something together.

The two teams sank their differences and worked on the project together.

To win the match, the players had to sink their differences.

a/the world of difference

idiom

A very big difference between two things.

There's a world of difference between knowing and doing.

The new design made a world of difference to the car's performance.

difference — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to ways in which things are not the same, but they differ in emphasis and formality. 'Difference' is the broadest everyday word — you can use it for anything from hair colour to political views. 'Distinction' is more formal and often suggests a fine or subtle difference that requires careful observation, such as 'a distinction between two scientific theories.' 'Contrast' highlights a clear and striking opposition, often used when comparing two things side by side: 'the contrast between light and shadow in the painting.' 'Variation' refers to natural differences within a group or range, not between two opposing items: 'there is a wide variation in test scores across the class.' 'Disparity' is the most formal and suggests an unfair or large gap, especially in wealth, access, or opportunity: 'the growing disparity between rich and poor neighbourhoods.' For everyday use, stick with 'difference'; for academic or formal writing, choose 'distinction' or 'disparity' depending on the nuance.

distinction ↗contrast ↗variation ↗disparity

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word comes from Latin 'differentia,' meaning 'a difference, diversity, or distinction,' which itself is built from 'differre' — 'to carry apart, to set apart.' The root 'dis-' means 'apart' and 'ferre' means 'to carry.' It entered English through Old French 'difference' in the 13th century, originally carrying both the sense of 'unlikeness' and 'disagreement,' much as it does today.