English Reference

Word

diverse

Phoneticsdi·verse, stress on the second syllable

US/daɪˈvɝs/

UK/daɪvˈɜːs/

Definitions

01varied or different

B2 · Upper Intermediate General-service

adj. including many different types of things or people.

adj. composed of distinct or unlike elements or qualities.

“The city has a very diverse population with people from all over the world.”

“The ecosystem supports a diverse range of flora and fauna, many of which are found nowhere else on the continent.”

Usage

Often followed by the preposition 'range of'.

02socially inclusive

B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic

adj. including people from different backgrounds, such as different races, genders, or religions.

adj. composed of people from a variety of demographic backgrounds, particularly those representing minority groups.

“The company is trying to hire a more diverse workforce this year.”

“The university's commitment to a diverse student body is reflected in its revised admissions policy and outreach programmes.”

Teaching tip

In modern business and academic contexts, this often specifically implies the inclusion of underrepresented groups.

03distinct or separate

C1 · Advanced Formal

adj. different from each other.

adj. differing from one another; not the same.

“The two brothers had very diverse interests, one loving sports and the other art.”

“Although they share a common ancestor, the two languages have evolved in diverse directions over the last millennium.”

Antonyms

Collocations

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

Adjective

01. ethnically diverse

“London is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the world, with people from every continent.”

adv + adj

02. increasingly diverse

“As globalization continues, our local communities are becoming increasingly diverse.”

adv + adj

Real-World Examples

“The UK’s biggest annual art festival returns, taking over pretty much every space in the Scottish capital with a raft of diverse exhibitions.”
The Guardian 15 Aug 2026
“Bees are one of the most diverse insect groups .”
ScienceDaily 29 Jul 2026
“More than 6900 species of harvestmen have been identified, making them one of the most diverse groups of arachnids.”
ScienceDaily 12 Jul 2026
“Given their educational role, do they have a duty to expose visitors to a diverse group of works?”
Ars Technica 25 Jul 2026

Etymology

PIE word *dwóh₁ The adjective is derived from Middle English divers, diverse (“different, divergent”), from Anglo-Norman divers, Anglo-Norman divers, and Old French divers (“different; of various kinds”) (modern French divers), and directly from their etymon Latin dīversus (“different, diverse”), an adjective use of the perfect passive participle of dīvertō (“to divert, turn away”), from dī- (variant of dis- (prefix meaning ‘apart, in two’)) + vertō (“to turn”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wert- (“to rotate; to turn”)). Doublet of divert. The adverb is derived from Middle English diverse (“differently; at various times”), from divers, diverse (adjective) (see above).

From Middle English diversen (“to differ, diverge; to become different, change; to vary; to change or vary (something); to make a distinction, distinguish; to divert”), from Anglo-Norman diverser, Middle French diverser, and Old French diverser (“to alter, change; to differ, diverge; to disagree”), from Late Latin diversare (“to differ”), and then either: * a frequentative form of Latin dīvertere, the present active infinitive of dīvertō (see etymology 1); or * from dī- (variant of dis- (prefix meaning ‘apart, in two’)) + versāre (the present active infinitive of versō (“to alter, change; to keep turning, whirl”), a frequentative form of vertō: see etymology 1). Etymology 2 sense 1 (“synonym of diversify”) became obsolete in the 16th century, and was probably recoined in the 20th century.

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

Word family

ADJECTIVE

diverse(B2)

Domains

BusinessFinance

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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
Frequency
Common
Level
B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
Updated

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