Word: disparate (adjective)

Associations

"Disparate" means very different or not similar, often referring to things that cannot be compared easily because they are so unlike each other.

• Example 1: "They have disparate opinions on politics." This means their opinions are very different.
• Example 2: "The two cultures have disparate traditions." Their traditions are very different.
• Example 3: "The company deals with disparate markets." The markets are very different from each other.

A well-known synonym is "different." The difference is that "disparate" often emphasizes a bigger gap or that things are so unlike they cannot be compared directly, while "different" is more general.

Substitution

You can replace "disparate" with:

• "diverse" (but diverse usually means varied in a positive or neutral way)
• "distinct" (emphasizes being clearly separate)
• "unlike" (more informal and simple) Each word changes the tone slightly. "Disparate" often sounds more formal and strong.

Deconstruction

"Disparate" comes from Latin "disparatus," past participle of "disparare," meaning to separate.

• Prefix: "dis-" means apart or away.
• Root: "par" means equal. So "disparate" literally means "not equal" or "separated in kind."

Inquiry

• Can you think of two things in your life that are disparate? How are they different?
• How would you use "disparate" to describe a group of people or ideas?
• Why do you think it is important to notice when things are disparate?