Definition of differentia in English:

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Pronunciation: /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃɪə/

noun (plural differentiae /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃɪiː/)

1A distinguishing mark or characteristic.
Example sentences
  • The differentiae of specific emotions are not physiological, but cognitive or something else.
  • Indeed, a major differentia between philosophy and theology lies in each discipline's locus of authority and attitude toward its own past.
1.1chiefly Philosophy An attribute that distinguishes a species of thing from other species of the same genus.
Example sentences
  • The text deals with a detailed explanation of the five logical-ontological key concepts: genus, species, differentia, essential attribute and accidental attribute.
  • As a result, if being were a genus, no differentiae could be said to have being; but ‘the differentiae of any genus must each of them both have being and be one’.


Late 17th century: from Latin, literally 'difference', from different- 'carrying away' (see different).

For editors and proofreaders

Line breaks: dif¦fer|en¦tia

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