differentiation

The act of recognizing or showing how things are different from one another.

• The labels allow easy differentiation between products.
• Price differentiation helps customers choose the right service.
• The report makes no differentiation between these two groups.

How to use it: differentiation between A and B (There is clear differentiation between the two product ranges.); differentiation of A from B (Differentiation of this species from related species requires careful observation.)

Similar words: distinction

Common phrases: product differentiation, clear differentiation, differentiation between things

The process of becoming different or developing special features, especially in cells or groups of living things.

• Cell differentiation begins early in development.
• These genes control differentiation into muscle cells.
• The study examines the differentiation of species over time.

Similar words: specialization

Common phrases: cell differentiation, cellular differentiation, species differentiation

Treating people or situations differently according to their needs or features.

• Differentiation helps teachers meet different learning needs.
• The lesson plan includes differentiation by ability.
• There should be no differentiation in treatment based on gender.

How to use it: differentiation according to something (The school uses differentiation according to pupils’ learning needs.)

Similar words: differential treatment

Common phrases: curricular differentiation, differentiation by ability, differentiation in teaching

A mathematical process for finding how quickly a function changes.

• Differentiation gives us the slope of this curve.
• We used differentiation to calculate the rate of change.
• Have you learned the basic rules of differentiation?

Common phrases: differentiation of functions, partial differentiation, differentiation rule