This guide will give you the definitions of the word diversity, where the word diversity comes from, how we use the word today, synonyms, and more!
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Kevin
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January 20, 2022
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Common Questions
This guide will give you the definitions of the word diversity, where the word diversity comes from, how we use the word today, synonyms, and more!
Diversity is a word we hear a lot. Like many words that we hear regularly, many of us don’t stop to really think about what it means. As children, we infer a lot of the meanings of words by how the adults around us use them, and unless we are given the task of defining the word, many of us rarely look the words up.
Words just go on meaning what we’ve decided they mean, but it can be a valuable experience to really look into a word like diversity and discover its meaning(s). Just like we need diversity in other parts of our lives, we need diversity in our vocabulary as well. Learning the meaning of words and the origins of those words can help us truly value the words we already think mean so much like diversity.
Diversity is a noun. Diversity (n.) has two definitions. Here are the definitions of diversity.
The word diversity is pronounced di-ver-si-ty and heard as də-ˈvər-sə-tē.
Here are some examples of diversity in a sentence.
Diversity comes from a Middle English word diversite and from an Old French word diversité. Before that, the word can be traced to Latin dīversitās.Diversitas is from Latin diversus and Latin divertere. Diverus meant diverse, and divertere meant turn aside.
Diversity is an important word today, and there are numerous articles about its importance.
One key area that diversity is emphasized and valued is in the workplace. According to Alliant International University, there are four types of diversity that can be examined. The four types of diversity are:
To further understand how we look at diversity, it may be helpful to look at each type of diversity individually.
With internal diversity, situations a person is born into can shape their characteristics in different ways from those born into other situations. Here are some examples of internal diversity.
External diversity has more to do with influencing elements of a person that are not characteristics they were born with. Here are some examples of external diversity.
Organizational diversity is sometimes called functional diversity. This type of diversity has to do with characteristics assigned to a person by the organization they work for. Here are some examples of organizational diversity.
Lastly, worldview diversity is typically just referred to as worldview. A lot of factors come together to create a person’s worldview. There are so many different factors that it can be difficult to find any two people with the exact same worldview. Here are some of the factors that contribute to worldview.
Offering employees an inclusive environment in the workplace promotes creativity. Diverse teams can draw from and appreciate each person’s point of view. To achieve a diverse workforce, here are some steps to try:
Another aspect of diversity is that companies can reach a broader segment of the market by offering different products and services. Some companies do better focusing on one product or service and being the best at that, but for many companies, offering product diversity allows them to make more sales and increase their profitability. This is called the point of difference.
Many classrooms teach the importance of diversity. Teachers encourage students to see the rich dimensions of diversity. This is meant to go beyond simple tolerance and give every student a sense of belonging. These lessons are meant to make a brighter and richer future for students that is free from prejudice.
Diversity can exist in many different ways. Outside of business and school, diversity exists all around us. Ecosystems rely on the diversity of species to avoid overpopulation, direct competition, extinction, etc.
We tend to apply the definition to humans, but you can find diversity everywhere.
Synonyms provide us an opportunity to diversify our vocabulary, and we can incorporate other ways of saying what we mean to be more succinct, more direct, and more intentional in our expression of thought. Here are some synonyms for diversity.
While diversity is important in our lives, occasionally, we need to organize things in a way that would not be considered diverse. To express the opposite mean of diversity, you need an antonym for diversity. Here are examples of antonyms for diversity.
Now, you know the types of diversity, what the word means, and how you can teach diversity in your workplace, school, or daily life!