different Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
    • took different approaches to the problem
    • came to a different conclusion
    • different parts of the country
    • on different sides of the issue
    • this meeting was different from the earlier one
  2. adjective satellite distinctly separate from the first
    • that's another (or different) issue altogether
  3. adjective satellite differing from all others; not ordinary
    • advertising that strives continually to be different
    • this new music is certainly different but I don't really like it
  4. adjective marked by dissimilarity
    dissimilar; unlike.
    • for twins they are very unlike
    • people are profoundly different
  5. adjective satellite distinct or separate
    • each interviewed different members of the community

WordNet

Dif"fer*ent adjective
Etymology
L. differens, -entis, p. pr. of differre: cf. F. différent.
Definitions
  1. Distinct; separate; not the same; other. "Five different churches." Addison.
  2. Of various or contrary nature, form, or quality; partially or totally unlike; dissimilar; as, different kinds of food or drink; different states of health; different shapes; different degrees of excellence.
    Men are as different from each other, as the regions in which they are born are different. Dryden.
    ✍ Different is properly followed by from. Different to, for different from, is a common English colloquialism. Different than is quite inadmissible.

Webster 1913