"diverse in kind or nature," 1620s, from Medieval Latin heterogeneus, from Greek heterogenes, from heteros "different" (see hetero-) + genos "kind, gender, race stock" (from PIE root *gene- "give birth, beget," with derivatives referring to procreation and familial and tribal groups). Earlier in same sense was heterogeneal (c. 1600). Related: Heterogeneously; heterogeneousness.
the population of the United States is vast and heterogeneous
hetero-
heteroclite
heterodox
heterodoxy
heterogeneity
heterogeneous
heterogenous
heterography
heteromorphic
heteronomy
heteronym