heterogeneous

Made up of people or things that are different from one another.

• The class is a heterogeneous group.
• Her books form a heterogeneous collection.
• The survey included a heterogeneous sample of city residents.

Similar words: diverse, mixed, varied

Opposites: homogeneous

Common phrases: heterogeneous group, heterogeneous population, heterogeneous collection

Containing more than one physical form of matter, such as a solid and a liquid together.

• Ice in water forms a heterogeneous system.
• The gas reacts with a solid in this heterogeneous reaction.
• Heterogeneous catalysis occurs at the surface of the solid catalyst.

Similar words: multiphase

Opposites: homogeneous

Common phrases: heterogeneous system, heterogeneous reaction, heterogeneous catalysis

Containing different parts that can be seen separately.

• Sand and water make a heterogeneous mixture.
• The rock is heterogeneous, with visible grains of different colours.
• You can see separate layers in this heterogeneous material.

Similar words: nonuniform, mixed

Opposites: homogeneous, uniform

Common phrases: heterogeneous mixture, heterogeneous material, heterogeneous appearance

Too different in kind to be compared using the same measure.

• These heterogeneous quantities cannot be directly compared.
• The calculation combines heterogeneous units, such as metres and seconds.
• A single scale cannot fairly compare these heterogeneous values.

Similar words: incommensurable

Opposites: commensurable

Common phrases: heterogeneous quantities, heterogeneous units, heterogeneous measures