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Heterogeneous

Describing a mixture or group that is composed of unlike parts; not uniform or homogeneous throughout.

adjective

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Imagine This

Imagine a fruit salad in a bowl: apples, bananas, grapes, and strawberries all mixed together. Each fruit remains distinct in color and texture, not a single uniform mass.

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Sounds Like

het-uh-ROH-jee-nee-u s

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Looks Like

Looks like a word built from two parts: hetero- (different) and -genous (produced; of a kind).

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Remember This

Heterogeneous is the opposite of homogeneous. In science, a heterogeneous mixture shows visibly different components.

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Other Forms

heterogeneitynoun

heterogeneousnessnoun

heterogenizeverb

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Connect With

homogeneous; diverse; varied; nonuniform; mixture

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Note

Use for nonuniform mixtures or groups. Do not use when referring to things that are uniform or alike throughout; compare with homogeneous.

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Study Deeper

Examples

Oil and water form a heterogeneous mixture because the two liquids do not mix uniformly and separate into layers.
The classroom was heterogeneous in ability, containing students from beginner to advanced levels.

Synonyms

diversevariedmixedassortednonuniform

Antonyms

homogeneousuniformconsistent

Etymology

From Greek heteros 'different' + genous (from Greek -genous, 'produced, kind') meaning 'of a different kind'; formed in English via Latin and French influences.

Mnemonic

Mnemonic: HETERO means different, and -GENOUS suggests kinds or origins. Remember: hetero + geneous = a mix of different kinds.