How do you pronounce different?

The recorded pronunciation is /ˈdɪf.ə.ɹənt/.

Where does different come from?

It is traced to Middle English.

different

/ˈdɪf.ə.ɹənt/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: 5.59 in modern English

Syllables: dif-fer-ent
IPA: /ˈdɪf.ə.ɹənt/

Scrabble Score

Letters

Syllables

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Not the same; exhibiting a difference.

adj

Various, assorted, diverse.

adj

Distinct, separate; used for emphasis after numbers and other determiners of quantity.

adj

Unlike most others; unusual.

noun

The different ideal.

adv

Differently.

Example Sentences

"— Is your grandpa any better? — No different. Still ill."
"At Elizabeth-Jane mentioning how greatly Lucetta had been jeopardized, he exhibited an agitation different in kind no less than in intensity from any she had seen in him before."
"One interesting feature was remarked by Dr. Peters, viz.: that the instrument used for the longitudes of the original catalogue was graduated differently to that used for the latitudes."
"Enter the American tourist. He thinks of himself as a good guy but when he looks in the mirror to shave this good guy he has to admit that "well, other people are different from me and I don't really like them." This makes him feel guilty toward other people."
"Irregular bedtimes may disrupt healthy brain development in young children, according to a study of intelligence and sleeping habits. ¶ Going to bed at a different time each night affected girls more than boys, but both fared worse on mental tasks than children who had a set bedtime, researchers found."
"My daughter told me about all the different animals she saw at the zoo."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ ▲ Proto-Indo-European *trísinflu. Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti Proto-Italic *ferō Latin ferō Latin differō Latin differēnsder. Old French differentbor. Middle English different English different From Middle English different, from Old French different, from Latin differēns, present active participle of differō (“to differ”). See also differ. Mostly supplanted native Old English ungelic in common usage, which lives on as unalike in Modern English.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: different

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈdɪf.ə.ɹənt/
British English: /ˈdɪf.ə.ɹənt/

Inflected Forms

more different (comparative) most different (superlative) differents (plural)

Derived Forms

diffability differential differentiation differently differentness equidifferent nondifferent serodifferent

Phrases

couldn't be more different dance to a different tune different as chalk and cheese different breed of cat different drummer different ideal different light different story

Frequently Paired Words

differ difference differentiate indifferent distinct separate

Synonyms

assorted confused conglomerate desultory deviating different disaccordant discordant discrepant disordered disparate dissimilar

Antonyms

undifferent akin alike comparable conformable corresponding homologous identical same similar twin homogeneous