1
Core quality
Composed of varied, diverse, or dissimilar elements.
Example
The survey drew on a heterogeneous sample of urban and rural households.
heterogeneous
/ˌhetərəˈdʒiːniəs/ · het-uh-roh-JEE-nee-usadjective
Composed of varied, diverse, or dissimilar elements.
Use heterogeneous to express this relationship precisely: composed of varied, diverse, or dissimilar elements.
What heterogeneous Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Attributive or predicative use
Use this adjective before a suitable noun or after a linking verb such as be or seem.
Example
The region's population is culturally and linguistically heterogeneous.
3
Analytical distinction
Choose it when this exact descriptive quality matters; a related word may overlap without conveying the same trait.
Example
The archive is heterogeneous, combining letters, maps, photographs, and receipts.
Use heterogeneous Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The survey drew on a heterogeneous sample of urban and rural households.
The region's population is culturally and linguistically heterogeneous.
The archive is heterogeneous, combining letters, maps, photographs, and receipts.
Precision Matters
Heterogeneous overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
heterogeneous
vs.Means composed of varied, diverse, or dissimilar elements.
homogeneous
Means uniform or composed of similar parts throughout.
heterogeneous
vs.Means composed of varied, diverse, or dissimilar elements.
disparate
Means fundamentally different from one another.
heterogeneous
vs.Means composed of varied, diverse, or dissimilar elements.
multifaceted
Means having many aspects or dimensions.
heterogeneous
vs.Means composed of varied, diverse, or dissimilar elements.
amorphous
Means lacking a clear structure, shape, or form.
Test heterogeneous in Context
The collection is made up of many different kinds of material.
1
Because the collection includes fossils, textiles, tools, and recordings, it is unusually ___.