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différentiation

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Etymology and origin of the French word différentiation

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1829 Boiste More words from the 19th century
Ultimate origin
French différentier,-ation
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French différentiation
English differentiation

Pronunciation

  • /di.fe.ʁɑ̃.sja.sjɔ̃/[1]

Forms

différentiation f (plural différentiations)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French différentier + -ation.[2][1][3][4][5] The verb is a spelling of différencier, which took over its mathematical sense, “to compute the differential of”, in the Encyclopédie of 1754;[2][6] the latter is borrowed from Scholastic Latin differentiō (“to differentiate”), a derivative of differentia (“difference”).[2][6]

It is a separate formation from the general noun of action différenciation, which is made on the stem of the other spelling.[2][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Boiste's dictionary is the first to record it, in the edition of 1829 according to the TLFi;[2] the Grand Robert, the GLLF, the Petit Robert and Rey give 1839, from Boiste.[3][7][8][6] Its sense there is mathematical.[7]

Semantic evolution

It has remained a term of mathematics, used beside the general différenciation for the operation of finding the différentielle of a function.[6][5][8] Littré and the GLLF define it the same way, also of an equation.[5][7]

The two nouns are pronounced alike.[8] Writers have sometimes used différentiation in the general sense of différenciation, as Barrès did with le principe de différentiation in his notebooks of 1920–1922.[2]

Timeline

  • 1754 – The Encyclopédie uses différentier for computing a differential.[2][6]
  • 1808 – The general noun différenciation is first recorded, in Cuvier.[2][6]
  • 1829 – Boiste records différentiation (1839 in other dictionaries).[2][3]
  • 1873 – Littré gives it as a mathematical term.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (mathematics) The operation of finding the differential of a function or of an equation, differentiation.[8][7][9][4]
  2. (rare) A spelling of différenciation, a making or becoming different.[2][1]

Usage notes

Différentiation and différenciation are homophones; the spelling with ⟨t⟩ is the usual one in mathematics.[8][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Académie française (1992–2024), Dictionnaire de l'Académie française, 9th ed., Paris: Académie française / Fayard / Imprimerie nationale
  5. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  7. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Différentiation.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/diff%C3%A9rentiation. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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