easy
The difference between eight and five is three.
What does Difference mean?
Difference means a way things differ, or the result of subtraction.
Dictionary definition
A way in which things are not the same; in arithmetic, the result of subtracting one quantity from another.
Example sentences
Difference in a sentence
medium
One difference between a square and a rectangle is that every side of a square has equal length.
hard
The temperature difference tells how far apart the two measurements are.
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Practice the meaning of Difference
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What is the difference in 12 − 7 = 5?
The result of a subtraction is called the difference.
Practice 2
Which question asks for a mathematical difference?
“How many more” asks how far apart two quantities are, which subtraction can find.
Practice 3
Which word contrasts with difference when comparing features?
A similarity tells how things are alike; a difference tells how they are unlike.
Practice complete
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Difference
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dif · er · ens · strongest beat: dif
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WordDifference.
Partnoun.
MeaningDifference means a way things differ, or the result of subtraction.
ExampleExample: The difference between eight and five is three.
Word breakdown
3 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- dif · er · ens
- Strongest beat
- dif
- Ending
- ens
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on dif.
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Synonyms
Words like Difference
distinctionA feature that makes one thing unlike another.
contrastA noticeable difference shown by comparing things.
gapClose when difference means the distance between amounts or values.
Antonyms
Opposite words
similarityA direct contrast when difference means a way things are unlike.
samenessThe state of being the same rather than different.
Synonym practice
Want to practice difference synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "The artist used contrast between light and dark colors," then compare close word choices. Practice difference synonyms.
Word family
Difference word family
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Student support
Understand Difference
Hint for students
In arithmetic, the difference is the subtraction result. It can tell how many remain or how far apart quantities are.
Common mix-up
Difference does not always mean “take away.” In comparison problems, it tells the distance or gap between two values.
Try it in class or at home
Find two classroom quantities, write a subtraction equation for their difference, then list one non-math difference and one similarity between the objects.
Teacher prompt
Compare two sets with 9 and 6 objects. Ask students to match objects, identify the unmatched 3, and connect that gap to 9 − 6 = 3.
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