heterogeneity

IPA/ˌhetərədʒəˈniːəti/
KK[hˌɛtɚədʒɪnˈiəti]IPA/ˌhetərədʒəˈniːəti/

heterogeneity — noun

1. the condition of being made up of parts, members, or materials that differ widel

1.nounC2
Definition

the condition of being made up of parts, members, or materials that differ widely from one another

Example

The heterogeneity of the soil meant some crops grew well while others failed.

heterogeneity of [material] for a group of differing parts

Soraya studied the genetic heterogeneity among the village families for her thesis.

common collocation: genetic heterogeneity

Common collocations
  • genetic heterogeneity
  • spatial heterogeneity
  • heterogeneity of opinions
Synonyms
  • diversity

    far more common and neutral; everyday word for a mix of different kinds

  • variety

    lighter and positive; emphasises range of choice rather than internal difference

  • variability

    stresses how much something changes or differs across cases or over time

Antonyms
  • homogeneity

    the direct opposite: being made of similar or identical parts

  • uniformity

    everyday opposite stressing sameness throughout

Grammar Patterns

heterogeneity of [group/material]

Usage Note

Almost always uncountable and followed by 'of' plus the group or material whose mixed nature is being described. Common in academic and scientific writing; rare in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

There are many heterogeneities in the team.
There is great heterogeneity in the team.
the word is normally uncountable, so it takes no plural and no 'a'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words point to differences within a group, but they sit at very different levels of formality and focus. 'Heterogeneity' is the most technical, common in science and academic writing, and stresses that the parts are genuinely unlike one another in kind, as in the heterogeneity of cancer cells. 'Diversity' is the everyday choice and often carries a positive social tone, as when people praise the diversity of a city's food. 'Variety' is lighter still and highlights the pleasant range of options, as in a wide variety of colours. 'Variability' shifts the focus to how much something changes from case to case or over time, such as the variability of weather. Choose 'heterogeneity' only in formal contexts where you need to underline deep, structural difference.

heterogeneity ↗diversity ↗variety ↗variability ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • genetic heterogeneity
  • spatial heterogeneity
  • cultural heterogeneity

Phrases

  • a high degree of heterogeneity
  • considerable heterogeneity

Prepositions

  • heterogeneity of
  • heterogeneity in
  • heterogeneity among

Etymology

GreekMedieval LatinEnglish

Built from Greek roots that mean 'other kind': 'heteros' for 'other or different' and 'genos' for 'kind, race, or type'. The combining form 'hetero-' reached English through scientific Latin, and the abstract noun 'heterogeneity' was formed to name the state of being of different kinds, mirroring its opposite 'homogeneity' from 'homos' meaning 'same'.

First known use

1641

1641, in the meaning defined above