divergence

noun

di·​ver·​gence də-ˈvər-jən(t)s How to pronounce divergence (audio)
dī-
1
a
: a drawing apart (as of lines extending from a common center)
c
evolutionary biology : the development of dissimilar traits or features (as of body structure or behavior) in closely related populations, species, or lineages of common ancestry that typically occupy dissimilar environments or ecological niches : divergent evolution
2
: a deviation from a course or standard
3
: the condition of being mathematically divergent

Examples of divergence in a Sentence

a growing divergence of opinion about that U.S. president's place in history any divergence from the community's strict moral code was met with social ostracism
Recent Examples on the Web One of the most striking features of 2023 was the sharp divergence between the picture of the economy painted by statistics (one of the best) and the view of most Americans (one of the worst). David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2024 That, in a nutshell, is why the divergence of obesity-diabetes companies from the rest of the industry in recent years can’t go on forever. David Wainer, WSJ, 27 Dec. 2023 Although there are large divergences between the major candidates’ views on the economy, politics and policies often influence the market less than other factors. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 Then, what is now merely a divergence between north and south might become an actual divide. Ramachandra Guha, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Regardless of these divergences in source text, first-time listeners are struck by a bolt of optimism. Ethan Iverson, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2024 But as the divergence has persisted, some economists inside and outside the Fed have begun to question those assumptions. Ben Casselman, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2024 Despite the recent divergence, the price of food in both categories has surged an identical 25% since the start of the pandemic. Rob Wile, NBC News, 13 Feb. 2024 Despite the divergence of sounds, the LP remains a cohesive body of work, one that is a masterclass in unbound creativity. Lisa Kocay, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'divergence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin dīvergentia, noun derivative of Latin dīvergent-, dīvergens divergent

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of divergence was in 1656

Dictionary Entries Near divergence

Cite this Entry

“Divergence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/divergence. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

divergence

noun
di·​ver·​gence də-ˈvər-jən(t)s How to pronounce divergence (audio)
dī-
: the state of diverging : a drawing apart (as of lines extending from a common center)

Medical Definition

divergence

noun
di·​ver·​gence də-ˈvər-jən(t)s, dī- How to pronounce divergence (audio)
1
a
: a drawing apart
b
: the acquisition of dissimilar characters by related organisms under the influence of unlike environments
2
: dissemination of the effect of activity of a single nerve cell through multiple synaptic connections compare convergence sense 4
diverge verb
diverged; diverging
divergent adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on divergence

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