skirtumas

Skirtumas is a Lithuanian noun meaning difference or distinction. It is used to denote the result of subtraction in mathematics and, more broadly, the degree of dissimilarity or variance between two or more entities, such as objects, concepts, or groups.

The word derives from the verb skirti, meaning to separate or distinguish, with the suffix -mas forming a noun.

In mathematics, skirtumas is the numerical result of subtracting one quantity from another. For example, the skirtumas between 9 and 4 is 5. The phrase absoliutus skirtumas refers to the absolute difference, written as |a − b|. The concept also appears in discussions of inequalities and other mathematical contexts.

Outside mathematics, skirtumas is used to describe distinctions between ideas, cultures, or categories. Examples include kultūriniai skirtumai (cultural differences), ekonominiai skirtumai (economic differences), and skirtumai tarp teorijų (differences between theories). The term helps express how two items are not the same and how they can be compared.

Related concepts in Lithuanian include palyginimas (comparison) and atskyrimas (separation), though each carries its own nuance. In everyday language, skirtumas remains a general, neutral term for describing how things differ or diverge. It is widely used in education, science, journalism, and common speech to convey variance, inequality, or distinction.