Difference vs. Deference — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Difference and Deference
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Definitions
Difference
The quality or condition of being unlike or dissimilar.
Deference
Deference (also called submission or passivity) is the condition of submitting to the espoused, legitimate influence of one's superior or superiors. Deference implies a yielding or submitting to the judgment of a recognized superior, out of respect or reverence.
Difference
An instance of disparity or unlikeness
There is a big difference in sound between a clarinet and an oboe.
Deference
Polite submission and respect
He addressed her with the deference due to age
Difference
A degree or amount by which things differ
A difference in height of three inches.
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Deference
Submission or courteous respect given to another, often in recognition of authority.
Difference
A noticeable change or effect
Exercise has made a difference in her health.
Deference
Great respect.
The children treated their elders with deference.
Difference
A disagreement or controversy
Let's settle our differences.
Deference
The willingness to carry out the wishes of others.
By tidying his room, he showed deference to his mother.
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Difference
Discrimination in taste or choice; distinction
In this case, the law should make no difference between young and old.
Deference
A yielding of judgment or preference from respect to the wishes or opinion of another; submission in opinion; regard; respect; complaisance.
Deference to the authority of thoughtful and sagacious men.
Deference is the most complicate, the most indirect, and the most elegant of all compliments.
Difference
The amount by which one quantity is greater or less than another.
Deference
A courteous expression (by word or deed) of esteem or regard;
His deference to her wishes was very flattering
Be sure to give my respects to the dean
Difference
The amount that remains after one quantity is subtracted from another.
Deference
Courteous regard for people's feelings;
In deference to your wishes
Out of respect for his privacy
Difference
To distinguish or differentiate.
Deference
A disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others
Difference
(uncountable) The quality of being different.
You need to learn to be more tolerant of difference.
Difference
(countable) A characteristic of something that makes it different from something else.
There are three differences between these two pictures.
Difference
(countable) A disagreement or argument.
We have our little differences, but we are firm friends.
Difference
Significant change in or effect on a situation or state.
It just won't make much difference to me.
It just won't make much of a difference to anyone.
Difference
(countable) The result of a subtraction; sometimes the absolute value of this result.
The difference between 3 and 21 is 18.
Difference
(obsolete) Choice; preference.
Difference
(heraldry) An addition to a coat of arms to distinguish two people's bearings which would otherwise be the same. See augmentation and cadency.
Difference
(logic) The quality or attribute which is added to those of the genus to constitute a species; a differentia.
Difference
(logic circuits) A Boolean operation which is true when the two input variables are different but is otherwise false; the XOR operation ().
Difference
(relational algebra) The set of elements that are in one set but not another ().
Difference
To distinguish or differentiate.
Difference
The act of differing; the state or measure of being different or unlike; distinction; dissimilarity; unlikeness; variation; as, a difference of quality in paper; a difference in degrees of heat, or of light; what is the difference between the innocent and the guilty?
Differencies of administration, but the same Lord.
Difference
Disagreement in opinion; dissension; controversy; quarrel; hence, cause of dissension; matter in controversy.
What was the difference? It was a contention in public.
Away therefore went I with the constable, leaving the old warden and the young constable to compose their difference as they could.
Difference
That by which one thing differs from another; that which distinguishes or causes to differ; mark of distinction; characteristic quality; specific attribute.
The marks and differences of sovereignty.
Difference
Choice; preference.
That now he chooseth with vile differenceTo be a beast, and lack intelligence.
Difference
An addition to a coat of arms to distinguish the bearings of two persons, which would otherwise be the same. See Augmentation, and Marks of cadency, under Cadency.
Difference
The quality or attribute which is added to those of the genus to constitute a species; a differentia.
Difference
The quantity by which one quantity differs from another, or the remainder left after subtracting the one from the other.
Difference
To cause to differ; to make different; to mark as different; to distinguish.
Thou mayest difference gods from men.
Kings, in receiving justice and undergoing trial, are not differenced from the meanest subject.
So completely differenced by their separate and individual characters that we at once acknowledge them as distinct persons.
Difference
The quality of being unlike or dissimilar;
There are many differences between jazz and rock
Difference
A variation that deviates from the standard or norm;
The deviation from the mean
Difference
A disagreement or argument about something important;
He had a dispute with his wife
There were irreconcilable differences
The familiar conflict between Republicans and Democrats
Difference
A significant change;
The difference in her is amazing
His support made a real difference
Difference
The number that remains after subtraction; the number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend
