# difference

/ˈdɪfɝəns/ (US) · /dˈɪfɹəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/difference
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 3. an effect or change

noun · CEFR B1

a noticeable effect or improvement in a situation.

For teachers: a significant effect, influence, or change in a state of affairs.

- The new medicine made a big difference to her health.
- The charitable donation made a substantial difference to the community, allowing the local library to expand its digital collection.

Usage: commonly used in the phrase 'make a difference'.

### 4. a disagreement

noun · CEFR B2

a disagreement or argument between people.

For teachers: a disagreement or dispute regarding opinion or policy.

- The two friends decided to settle their differences and be kind again.
- Despite their political differences, the two leaders managed to reach a compromise on the environmental treaty.

Usage: often used in the plural 'differences'.

### 5. math result

noun · CEFR B1

the amount that remains after you subtract one number from another.

For teachers: the remainder or result obtained by subtracting one quantity from another.

- The difference between ten and four is six.
- The statistical analysis focused on the significant difference between the control group and the experimental group results.

## Examples

- There is a big difference between these two cars.
- The main difference between the two software versions is the speed of the search function.
- While the two political candidates agree on the ultimate goal, there is a fundamental difference in their proposed methods for achieving economic stability.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.