heterogeneous

UK: /ˌhɛtərəˈdʒiːniəs/

US: /ˌhɛtərəˈdʒiniəs, -ˈdʒinjəs/

US: (het′ər ə jē′nē əs, -jēn′yəs)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

het•er•o•ge•ne•ous /ˌhɛtərəˈdʒiniəs, -ˈdʒinyəs/   adj. 

1. composed of parts of different kinds; mixed.

het•er•o•ge•ne•i•ty /ˌhɛtəroʊdʒəˈniɪti/  het•er•o•ge•ne•ous•ness, n. [uncountable]
het•er•o•ge•ne•ous•ly, adv. See -hetero-, -gen-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

het•er•o•ge•ne•ous  (het′ər ə jē′nē əs, -jēn′yəs), adj. 

1. different in kind;
   unlike;
   incongruous.
2. composed of parts of different kinds;
   having widely dissimilar elements or constituents:
   The party was attended by a heterogeneous group of artists, politicians, and social climbers.
3. Chemistry (of a mixture) composed of different substances or the same substance in different phases, as solid ice and liquid water.

• Greek heterogené̄s. See hetero-, gene, -ous
• Medieval Latin heterogeneus
• 1615–25

het′er•o•ge′ne•ous•ly, adv. 
het′er•o•ge′ne•ous•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. varied, diverse.

Antonyms

• 2. homogeneous.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

heterogeneous / ˌhɛtərəʊˈdʒiːnɪəs/ adjective

1. composed of unrelated or differing parts or elements
2. not of the same kind or type
3. of, composed of, or concerned with two or more different phases
   Compare homogeneous

Etymology: 17th Century: from Medieval Latin heterogeneus, from Greek heterogenēs, from hetero- + genos sort

heterogeneity / ˌhɛtərəʊdʒɪˈniːɪtɪ/, ˌheteroˈgeneousness noun