differentiation
noun
dif·fer·en·ti·a·tion
ˌdi-fə-ˌren(t)-shē-ˈā-shən 
1
: the act or process of differentiating
2
: development from the one to the many, the simple to the complex, or the homogeneous to the heterogeneous
differentiation of Latin into vernaculars
3
biology
a
: modification of body parts for performance of particular functions
b
: the sum of the processes whereby apparently indifferent (see indifferent sense 7) or unspecialized cells, tissues, and structures attain their adult form and function
4
geology
: the processes by which various rock types are produced from a common magma
Examples of differentiation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Manufacturers are beginning to embrace AI as a point of differentiation.
—
Joe Trusty, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
States able to balance real school choice with maintaining healthy school districts will usher in a golden age of differentiation and innovation.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
So, cyanobacteria were evolving multicellularity with honest-to-goodness development and cell differentiation around 3 billion years ago.
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 20 Mar. 2025
Staying true to local roots fosters trust, loyalty and differentiation in a crowded market.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2025
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Joe Trusty, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
States able to balance real school choice with maintaining healthy school districts will usher in a golden age of differentiation and innovation.
—Ryan Craig, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
So, cyanobacteria were evolving multicellularity with honest-to-goodness development and cell differentiation around 3 billion years ago.
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 20 Mar. 2025
Staying true to local roots fosters trust, loyalty and differentiation in a crowded market.
—Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for differentiation
Cite this Entry
“Differentiation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/differentiation. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
differentiation
noun
dif·fer·en·ti·a·tion
ˌdif-ə-ˌren-chē-ˈā-shən
1
: the act or process of differentiating
2
: the processes by which cells and tissues develop their specialized adult form and function
also
: the result of these processes
Medical Definition
differentiation
noun
dif·fer·en·ti·a·tion
-ˌren-chē-ˈā-shən
1
a
: the act of describing a thing by giving its differentia
b
: the enhancement of microscopically visible differences between tissue or cell parts by partial selective decolorization or removal of excess stain (as in regressive staining)
c
: the development of a discriminating conditioned response with a positive response to one stimulus and absence of the response on the application of similar but discriminably different stimuli
2
a
: modification of different parts of the body for performance of particular functions
also
: specialization of parts or organs in the course of evolution
b
: the sum of the developmental processes whereby apparently unspecialized cells, tissues, and structures attain their adult form and function compare determination sense 2
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