Difference | Mean of difference in English Dictionary

/ˈdɪfrəns/

• Noun
• the quality that makes one person or thing unlike another
1. She knows the difference between right and wrong.
2. There's no difference between the two houses. They look exactly the same.
3. There's a striking difference in the sisters' looks. [=they look very different from each other]
4. It's hard to tell the difference [=distinguish] between one action movie and another.
5. The new version is supposed to be much better than the old one, but I can't tell the difference (between them).
• something that people do not agree about
1. They've always had their differences. [=they have always disagreed about some things]
2. The debate gave them a chance to air their differences. [=to discuss the things that they disagree about]
3. We need to find a way to resolve/settle our differences. [=to stop disagreeing, arguing, etc.]
4. There seems to be a difference of opinion [=people disagree] about what we should do next.
5. They divorced because of irreconcilable differences. [=serious disagreements that they were not able to settle]
• the degree or amount by which things differ
1. There's a big difference in price.
2. There's a 15-year age difference between her oldest and youngest children. [=her oldest child is fifteen years older than her youngest child]

• to cause a change
1. Cost can make a difference in deciding on a college.
2. “When would you like to leave?” “It makes no difference (to me).” [=it doesn't matter to me; I don't care]
3. The weather didn't make any difference in our plans. [=didn't change our plans]
4. It would make a lot of difference if you came.
5. Your help made a big difference.
6. It makes very little difference. [=it matters very little]
7. The size of the engine can make all the difference. [=can be very important; can matter most]
8. It may not matter to you, but it makes all the difference in the world to me. = It makes a world of difference to me. [=it matters very much to me]
• to do something that is important
1. She says that she got into politics because she wanted to make a difference.