Word
disparate
Phoneticsdis·parate
US/ˈdɪspɝɪt/
UK/dˈɪspəɹət/
Definitions
01fundamentally different
C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal
adj. made up of things that are very different from one another and have no obvious connection.
adj. composed of inherently different or distinct elements that are often incongruous or difficult to reconcile.
“The team was made up of a disparate group of people with very different backgrounds.”
“The collection brought together disparate elements of mid-century design and modern industrial aesthetics into a surprisingly cohesive exhibition.”
Usage
Usually used to describe a group, collection, or set of ideas.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'different'. Emphasize that 'disparate' implies the things are so different they shouldn't naturally be together.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02dissimilar things
C2 · Proficiency Plural noun Academic · Formal
n. things that are so different they cannot be compared.
n. things that are fundamentally unequal or dissimilar; typically used in the plural to refer to a set of unrelated items.
“It is difficult to find a common theme among such disparates.”
“The philosopher argued that attempting to categorize such disparates under a single heading was a logical error.”
Usage
Almost exclusively used in the plural form 'disparates'.
Teaching tip
The noun form is very rare and mostly found in academic or philosophical texts.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“What unites the seemingly disparate works is their function: to tell a story, often in a single frame, as Lucas’s co-founder and wife, Mellody Hobson, told members of the press on Wednesday.” “The plates continue to spin at Ibrox as McInnes attempts to put order on all of this, to forge a coherent team from all the disparate parts.” Etymology
First attested in 1586; either borrowed from Middle French desparat or directly from Latin disparātus, perfect passive participle of disparō (“to divide”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix)), from dis- (“apart”) + parō (“to arrange”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁ (“two”) and the root per- (“carry forth”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/disparate