# heterogeneity

/ˌhɛtɝədʒɪˈneɪəti/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/heterogeneity
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

the quality of being made of many different parts or types. It is the opposite of being the same in every way.

For teachers: the state of being diverse in character or composition. Often used in scientific or statistical contexts to describe a population or sample that contains multiple distinct subgroups.

## Examples

- The team's heterogeneity helps us solve problems faster.
- Researchers noted the high heterogeneity of the patient group, which made it difficult to find a single treatment that worked for everyone.
- The study's findings were called into question due to the extreme heterogeneity of the data, as the sample included participants from vastly different socioeconomic backgrounds and geographic regions.

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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.