English Reference

Word

difference

Phoneticsdif·fer·ence, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈdɪfɝəns/

UK/dˈɪfɹəns/

Definitions

01state of being different

A1 · Beginner Uncountable noun

n. the quality of not being the same as something else.

n. the abstract quality or state of being dissimilar or distinct.

“I can't see much difference between the two phone models.”

“The difference in quality between the hand-crafted prototype and the mass-produced version was immediately apparent to the inspectors.”

Pitfall

There is a big difference of these two cars.

There is a big difference between these two cars.

Use 'between' when comparing two specific things.

Synonyms

dissimilaritydisparity

02a specific variation

A1 · Beginner Countable noun

n. a specific thing that makes one person or object not like another.

n. a specific characteristic or feature that distinguishes one entity from another.

“One major difference is that the new version has a better camera.”

“The researchers identified several key differences in the way the two groups responded to the stimulus over a six-month period.”

03making an impact

A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun

n. a significant change or effect on a situation.

n. a significant effect, influence, or change in a state of affairs; often used with the verb 'make'.

“Adding more salt made a big difference to the taste of the soup.”

“The new community centre has made a real difference to the lives of young people in this neighbourhood.”

04a disagreement

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a disagreement or argument between people.

n. a disagreement or dispute regarding an opinion or a course of action.

“They had a few differences of opinion but they are still good friends.”

“The two business partners decided to split up after failing to resolve their professional differences regarding the company's future.”

Antonyms

05math result

A2 · Elementary Countable noun Mathematics

n. the amount you get when you subtract one number from another.

n. the remainder obtained by subtracting one quantity from another.

“The difference between ten and seven is three.”

“To calculate the profit margin, you must first determine the difference between the gross revenue and the total operating expenses.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “difference” in context.

01. apparent difference 02. assess difference 03. considerable difference 04. cultural difference 05. demonstrate difference 06. detect difference 07. difference affect 08. difference arise 09. difference contribute 10. difference disappear 11. difference emerge 12. difference exist

Etymology

From Middle English difference, from Old French difference, from Latin differentia (“difference”), from differēns (“different”), present participle of differre. Doublet of differentia. Morphologically differ + -ence.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

ADJECTIVE

Related words

Idioms

Domain

Logic

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
Frequency
Very common
Level
A1 · BeginnerOxford
Updated

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