differentiate

[ dif-uh-ren-shee-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, dif·fer·en·ti·at·ed, dif·fer·en·ti·at·ing.

1. to form or mark differently from other such things; distinguish.
2. to change; alter.
3. to perceive the difference in or between.

   Synonyms: separate

4. to make different by modification, as a biological species.
5. Mathematics. to obtain the differential or the derivative of.

verb (used without object)

, dif·fer·en·ti·at·ed, dif·fer·en·ti·at·ing.

1. to become unlike or dissimilar; change in character.
2. to make a distinction.
3. Biology. (of cells or tissues) to change from relatively generalized to specialized kinds, during development.

differentiate

/ ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. tr to serve to distinguish between
2. whenintr, often foll by between to perceive, show, or make a difference (in or between); discriminate
3. intr to become dissimilar or distinct
4. maths to perform a differentiation on (a quantity, expression, etc)
5. intr (of unspecialized cells, etc) to change during development to more specialized forms

Derived Forms

• ˌdifferˈentiˌator, noun

Other Words From

• dif·fer·enti·ation noun
• inter·differ·enti·ate verb (used with object) interdifferentiated interdifferentiating
• redif·fer·enti·ate verb redifferentiated redifferentiating
• self-differ·enti·ating adjective
• undif·fer·enti·ated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of differentiate¹

First recorded in 1810–20; from Medieval Latin differentiātus distinguished (past participle of differentiāre ), equivalent to Latin different(ia) difference + -ātus -ate ¹

Synonym Study

See distinguish.

Example Sentences

“I noticed that my kids just didn’t differentiate. It was just such a light bulb moment for me. This is how it should be. More exposure to the full spectrum of humanity.”

From Los Angeles Times

How would you differentiate between restaurant culture as far as the UK and US?

From Salon

Ben Sulayem said F1 had to "differentiate between our sport - motorsport - and rap music".

From BBC

Many of these people seem to have lost the ability to differentiate between fact and fiction; many of them perhaps never cared very much about the distinction in the first place.

From Slate

“It is often not possible, or helpful, to differentiate when a person has been trafficked or smuggled, especially as exploitation can happen at any time,” said Jamie Fookes, UK and Europe advocacy manager at Anti-Slavery International.

From BBC

Related Words

• adapt
• alter
• diversify
• modify
• transform
• vary