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
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 WebThe genetic data also suggest that Omicron had continued mutating from its point of divergence, either in a human or animal host, without causing an epidemic surge until one unfolded earlier this year. Abraar Karan, Scientific American, 13 July 2022 Perhaps the origins of the divergence can be traced to how differently members of the political parties conceive of the nature of our government.The New Republic, 14 Apr. 2022 The divergence matters because both numbers cannot be right, and some economists believe the figure on income is likely to be closer to the mark, because the government collects more detailed data on income. Ben Casselman, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Aug. 2022 The wide divergence in death rates demonstrates just how differently the pandemic has played out in varying corners of the country.Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2022 The critical response — in particular, the divergence of that response from the audience reaction — is interesting to note. Andy Meek, BGR, 2 Aug. 2022 So, does this divergence of central-bank policies spell good or bad news for investors holding U.S. stocks? Derek Horstmeyer, WSJ, 1 Apr. 2022 And yet, while there is greater bipartisanship over the issue than in previous times, there still exists a strong divergence of opinion on how to house poor and low-income renters seeking shelter adequately. Richard Burns, Forbes, 28 June 2022 The divergence of views has left Washington’s European allies to sort between the dire U.S. outlook and the more cautious view from Kyiv. Vivian Salama, WSJ, 29 Jan. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from New Latin dīvergentia, noun derivative of Latin dīvergent-, dīvergensdivergent