divergence
noun
di·ver·gence
də-ˈvər-jən(t)s 
dī-
1
a
: a drawing apart (as of lines extending from a common center)
b
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
The divergence between the stock market and weakening consumer sentiment is especially worrisome given that the two measures usually move more in sync.
—
Sarah Min, CNBC, 15 May 2026
Ana Paula Alves de Oliveira, founder and strategic director of Be Disobedient, said the divergence between Lee and Wrangler is less about product quality and more about narrative architecture.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
That divergence is why a Sicilian slice from a New York pizzeria can taste dramatically different from a slab of sfincione bought at a bakery in Palermo.
—Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2026
The largest divergence in spending growth appeared around bigger ticket items like travel, reflecting either hesitancy around vacation planning due to wage growth, or gas prices.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for divergence
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Sarah Min, CNBC, 15 May 2026
Ana Paula Alves de Oliveira, founder and strategic director of Be Disobedient, said the divergence between Lee and Wrangler is less about product quality and more about narrative architecture.
—Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 14 May 2026
That divergence is why a Sicilian slice from a New York pizzeria can taste dramatically different from a slab of sfincione bought at a bakery in Palermo.
—Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2026
The largest divergence in spending growth appeared around bigger ticket items like travel, reflecting either hesitancy around vacation planning due to wage growth, or gas prices.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for divergence
Cite this Entry
“Divergence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/divergence. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
divergence
noun
di·ver·gence
də-ˈvər-jən(t)s
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-
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
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