heterogeneous

/hɛ.tə.ɹə.ˈdʒiː.niː.əs/

Group 5Difficulty 2/3

Definition

(adjective)
Diverse in character or content; composed of varied parts
GRE

Example in Context

The city's heterogeneous population, drawn from dozens of countries, gives it a cultural richness that homogeneous communities often lack.

Synonyms

mixeddiversevaried

Etymology

From Greek roots meaning 'different kinds', indicating diversity.

  • hetero- (Greek) — different
  • geneous (Greek) — kind

Memory Aid

🌈Sounds like “hedge-or-gene-us

Picture a hedge made of different genes, sprouting bizarre plants — it’s HETEROGENEOUS!

Visual Association

🌍A vibrant garden filled with flowers of every color, shape, and size, all thriving together.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “heterogeneous” mean on the GRE?

heterogeneous (adjective) means “Diverse in character or content; composed of varied parts”. The city's heterogeneous population, drawn from dozens of countries, gives it a cultural richness that homogeneous communities often lack.

How to remember “heterogeneous” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “heterogeneous” sounds like “hedge-or-gene-us”. Picture a hedge made of different genes, sprouting bizarre plants — it’s HETEROGENEOUS!

What are synonyms for “heterogeneous”?

Common synonyms: mixed, diverse, varied.