differs

Differs is the third-person singular present tense of the verb differ. To differ means to be unlike, to vary in some characteristic, quantity, or quality, or to have a discrepancy. The term is used when two or more things are not identical; it can describe factual differences or subjective opinions.

Usage notes: It normally takes the preposition from in standard comparisons, as in "X differs from Y." This phrasing is common in analysis, reporting, and description. In some contexts, writers may use "differs with," but "differs from" is the accepted form for indicating a contrast with another item, criterion, or baseline.

Examples:

- The latest model differs from its predecessor in fuel efficiency.

- Her account differs from his, though both describe the same event.

- Opinions on the policy differ across regions.

Related forms and meanings: The noun form is difference; the related adjective is different, and adverbially, differently. The verb differs from related verbs such as vary, contrast, or diverge, which can be more appropriate depending on nuance or emphasis.

Etymology: The word originates in Old French differer, from Latin differre, meaning to carry apart or to be unlike, with later extensions to the sense of discrepancy. In modern English, differs emphasizes a specific deviation or distinction between two or more items rather than a general variation.