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
Fossils have hinted at dog-like traits appearing more than 30,000 years ago and yet genetic studies have often pointed to a much later divergence from wolves.
—
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
This divergence has prompted some states to pull back on their marketing for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, Wolfe said.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Over time, such divergence must lead to catastrophe.
—Roy Scranton, JSTOR Daily, 18 Sep. 2025
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, where mature designs leave little room for differentiation beyond materials, electrolyzers still exhibit vast design divergence.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for divergence
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Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
This divergence has prompted some states to pull back on their marketing for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, Wolfe said.
—Tami Luhby, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Over time, such divergence must lead to catastrophe.
—Roy Scranton, JSTOR Daily, 18 Sep. 2025
Unlike lithium-ion batteries, where mature designs leave little room for differentiation beyond materials, electrolyzers still exhibit vast design divergence.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for divergence
Cite this Entry
“Divergence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/divergence. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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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