[ ˌhɛt(ə)rə(ʊ)'dʒi:nɪəs , -'dʒɛn- ]
■ adjective
1》 diverse in character or content.
2》 Chemistry denoting a process involving substances in different phases (solid, liquid, or gaseous): ~ catalysis.
Derivatives
heterogeneity -dʒɪ'ni:ɪti , -'neɪɪti noun
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
C17: from med. L. heterogeneus , from Gk heterogenēs , from heteros 'other' + genos 'a kind'.
Usage
Heterogeneous is commonly misspelled as heterogenous . Heterogenous is actually a different word, meaning ‘originating outside the organism’.