SAT Basic
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difference

/ˈdɪfərəns/
English Definition
n. a way in which people or things are not the same
中文释义
差异
Example Sentence

The difference in air pressure between the two chambers determines the direction of the airflow in the experiment.

两个腔室之间的气压差异决定了实验中气流的方向。

Synonyms
discrepancy distinction variation
Seen in practice — from the Digital SAT question bank

Nutrition researcher Mark Ferrell found no significant difference in energy levels between breakfast eaters and skippers once he controlled for total daily calorie intake, suggesting the effect Nair observed may stem from overall diet rather than the timing of the first meal.

From a Cross-Text Connections question · Craft and Structure

Nutrition researcher Kwame Boateng found no significant difference in calorie intake between slow and fast eaters once he controlled for how much water participants drank during the meal, suggesting hydration, not eating speed, may explain Papadakis's result.

From a Cross-Text Connections question · Craft and Structure

Nutrition researcher Hassan Ali found no significant difference in portion size between water-drinkers and non-drinkers once he controlled for how quickly participants ate, suggesting eating speed, not water consumption itself, may explain Dubois's result.

From a Cross-Text Connections question · Craft and Structure

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Practice — Definition Match

Which choice best defines “difference”?

  1. A An area of a country or city, especially one regarded as a distinct unit
  2. B A way in which people or things are not the same
  3. C The spread of disease by contact
  4. D Achievement, act
Show answer

B — A way in which people or things are not the same. “difference” means a way in which people or things are not the same.

Practice — Which Word Fits?

Which word means “a way in which people or things are not the same”?

  1. A contagion
  2. B difference
  3. C district
  4. D feat
Show answer

B — difference. “difference” means a way in which people or things are not the same.

Common questions about “difference”

What does “difference” mean?

difference — a way in which people or things are not the same. In Chinese: 差异.

How do you pronounce “difference”?

difference is pronounced /ˈdɪfərəns/.

How is “difference” used in a sentence?

The difference in air pressure between the two chambers determines the direction of the airflow in the experiment. (两个腔室之间的气压差异决定了实验中气流的方向。)

What are synonyms for “difference”?

discrepancy, distinction, variation — all close in meaning to difference (a way in which people or things are not the same).

What is the opposite of “difference”?

similarity, resemblance — each the opposite of difference (a way in which people or things are not the same).

Is “difference” an SAT vocabulary word?

Yes. difference is on the SAT Prep Basic list — the everyday academic words the SAT assumes you already have. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.

Progress / 学习进度
22%
through SAT Basic
This level: 0 mastered (0% of the level)
The Digital SAT tests vocabulary through Words in Context questions, never as a standalone definition. Learn the word, then use it against a real passage.