What does disparate mean?
Word: Disparate
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Disparate means so different from each other that they cannot easily be compared or put together.
Synonyms: different, unlike, varied
Antonyms: similar, alike
How do you spell disparate?
Syllables: dis - pa - rate
Tricky part: The vowel after the p is a, and there is one r. Take care not to mix it up with a look-alike word that means having lost nearly all hope.
Watch out for: disparrate, dispirate, disparet
Memory tip: Disparate and separate both describe things that stay apart, and both end in the same five letters, arate.
Disparate in a sentence
Example 1: The scientists came from disparate fields, from farming to space research.
Example 2: Rahul's two hobbies, boxing and embroidery, seem disparate, but he loves both.
Example 3: The quiz had disparate questions on music, maths and monsoons.
Fun Fact
Disparate comes from the Latin disparatus, meaning separated; the related word disparity means a big difference, such as a disparity in prices.
Practise the CREST Way
Sound Check
In which word is 'ate' pronounced differently?
a) chocolate
b) translate
c) disparate
d) private
Show answer
b) translate. Translate ends with the 'ait' sound of late; in the other three the ate is a quick 'it'.
Word Champ
Choose the correct word for the blank:
Things that are so different from each other that they are hard to compare are ___.
a) moderate
b) delicate
c) accurate
d) disparate
Show answer
d) disparate. Delicate means easily broken, accurate means exactly right and moderate means not too much.
Word Tally
You get 2 marks for each misspelt word you find in the list. How many marks will you get?
disparate, varied, contrest, unlike, assorted, mixxed
a) 4
b) 8
c) 6
d) 2
Show answer
a) 4. Contrast has an a after the r and mixed has one x, so two words are wrong: 2 x 2 = 4.
Word Twins
Fill both blanks and choose the correct option:
1. The two sisters have ___ hobbies: one paints, the other plays hockey. 2. After the long walk in the sun, the thirsty dog was ___ for water.
a) 'desperate' in both
b) 'disparate' in both
c) disparate/desperate
d) desperate/disparate
Show answer
c) disparate/desperate. Hobbies that are very different are disparate; a dog that badly needs water is desperate.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which pair of things is the most disparate?
a) a tortoise and a racing car
b) a cup and a mug
c) a pen and a pencil
d) a sofa and a couch
Show answer
a) a tortoise and a racing car
2. In which sentence is disparate used correctly?
a) The weather stayed disparate all week, with the same grey drizzle daily.
b) Please disparate the red glass beads from the blue ones now.
c) The two cousins have disparate tastes: one loves rock, the other ghazals.
d) She carefully disparated the big cake into four equal pieces.
Show answer
c) The two cousins have disparate tastes: one loves rock, the other ghazals.
