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
This divergence between share price and fundamentals is one hallmark of what people call a meme stock, says Albert Choi, a law professor at the University of Michigan who has studied the phenomenon.
—
Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2024
The comments strike a slightly less optimistic tone from the top banker, who has recently painted a sanguine outlook for world markets — a sharp divergence from his views less than two years ago when central banks first started tightening interest rates.
—Harry Brumpton, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024
Image The symbolism of this hellscape differs according to the beholder, amid a deep divergence about how the conflict should be reported and explained.
—Patrick Kingsley Avishag Shaar-Yashuv, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Note that the relative strength index is indicating a negative divergence versus price action.
—John Navin, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
In addition to their higher salary, foreign workers have also been able to take advantage of tax breaks, such as the non-habitual residence (NHR) scheme, which caused a big divergence in take-home pay between residents and non-residents.
—Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 25 Mar. 2024
Now that divergence has a harder, sharper edge than ever: Washington’s strategic goals in the region require a Palestinian state in the long run and Israeli acknowledgment of that aim in the short run; the Israeli government is having none of it.
—Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2024
The divergence in opinion was not limited to the Iraq war.
—Naima Green-Riley, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2024
One of the most striking features of 2023 was the sharp divergence between the picture of the economy painted by statistics (one of the best) and the view of most Americans (one of the worst).
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2024
Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2024
The comments strike a slightly less optimistic tone from the top banker, who has recently painted a sanguine outlook for world markets — a sharp divergence from his views less than two years ago when central banks first started tightening interest rates.
—Harry Brumpton, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024
Image The symbolism of this hellscape differs according to the beholder, amid a deep divergence about how the conflict should be reported and explained.
—Patrick Kingsley Avishag Shaar-Yashuv, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Note that the relative strength index is indicating a negative divergence versus price action.
—John Navin, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
In addition to their higher salary, foreign workers have also been able to take advantage of tax breaks, such as the non-habitual residence (NHR) scheme, which caused a big divergence in take-home pay between residents and non-residents.
—Byryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 25 Mar. 2024
Now that divergence has a harder, sharper edge than ever: Washington’s strategic goals in the region require a Palestinian state in the long run and Israeli acknowledgment of that aim in the short run; the Israeli government is having none of it.
—Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2024
The divergence in opinion was not limited to the Iraq war.
—Naima Green-Riley, Foreign Affairs, 23 Feb. 2024
One of the most striking features of 2023 was the sharp divergence between the picture of the economy painted by statistics (one of the best) and the view of most Americans (one of the worst).
—David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'divergence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near divergence
Cite this Entry
“Divergence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/divergence. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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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