Is there any difference between 'despite' and 'in spite of'?

No meaningful difference in meaning; 'despite' is slightly more formal and concise. They are interchangeable.

Can I use 'despite' followed by a subject and verb?

Not directly. You must use 'despite the fact that' + subject + verb. Incorrect: *'Despite he left...'. Correct: 'Despite the fact that he left...'.

Is 'despite of' correct?

No, it is always incorrect. The correct forms are 'despite' (without 'of') or 'in spite of' (with 'of').

What part of speech is 'despite' most commonly?

It is most commonly a preposition. Its historical uses as a noun and verb are now archaic and extremely rare.

despite

High-frequency

UK/dɪˈspaɪt/US/dɪˈspaɪt/

Formal to neutral

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A preposition expressing a surprising contrast between two things, meaning 'without being affected by' or 'in spite of' the given circumstance.

Can also function as a noun meaning 'contemptuous treatment or defiance' (archaic/formal). More rarely, used as a verb meaning 'to treat with contempt' (archaic).

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

As a preposition, signals that one fact makes another fact surprising or unexpected. Does not link clauses grammatically like 'although' (conjunction).

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Minimal difference. 'In spite of' is a precise synonym in both varieties. Both 'despite' and 'in spite of' are used in all registers.

Connotations

Slightly more formal than 'in spite of'. No significant connotative difference between UK and US usage.

Frequency

Very high frequency in both written and spoken language. 'Despite' is marginally more common in formal writing than 'in spite of' in both varieties.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

despite the fact thatdespite everythingdespite appearancesdespite all oddsdespite warnings

medium

despite the weatherdespite the recessiondespite oppositiondespite pressuredespite difficulties

weak

despite his agedespite their sizedespite strong windsdespite recent eventsdespite clear evidence

Grammar

Valency Patterns

despite + noun/noun phrasedespite + verb-ing (gerund)despite + pronoun

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

regardless ofirrespective of

Neutral

in spite ofnotwithstanding

Weak

even withfor all

Vocabulary

Antonyms

because ofdue toon account ofas a result of

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“Despite oneself (meaning involuntarily)”
“In despite of (archaic for in spite of)”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

"Despite market volatility, the company posted record profits."

Academic

"Despite the limitations of the sample size, the study yielded significant results."

Everyday

"We went for a walk despite the drizzle."

Technical

"The system remained stable despite the overload."

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

(Archaic) He was accused of designing to despite the church.

American English

(Archaic, rare) The tyrant sought only to despite his enemies.

adverb

British English

(Obsolete) Not used.

American English

(Obsolete) Not used.

adjective

British English

(Obsolete) Not used.

American English

(Obsolete) Not used.

Examples

By CEFR Level

He smiled despite the pain.
They played outside despite the cold.

Despite the heavy traffic, we arrived on time.
She enjoyed the film despite not understanding every word.

Despite having little formal education, she built a successful business.
The treaty was ratified despite considerable political opposition.

Despite the initial hypothesis being flawed, the research yielded unexpected insights.
He maintained his composure throughout the ordeal, despite being subjected to intense scrutiny.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a SPITEful person trying to stop you. You succeed DESPITE their spite.

Conceptual Metaphor

OBSTACLE OVERCOMING (The circumstance following 'despite' is conceptualised as an obstacle that did not prevent the main event).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Do not translate directly from Russian constructions using "вопреки" + dative case as a direct template. English uses 'despite' + noun phrase. Avoid using 'despite' followed directly by a clause without 'the fact that' (e.g., *'Despite he was tired' is wrong).

Common Mistakes

Using 'despite of' (incorrect; it's just 'despite' or 'in spite of').
Confusing with 'although' (conjunction) and using 'despite' to introduce a clause without 'the fact that'.
Spelling confusion with 'desparate'.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

repeated warnings, they continued to hike near the cliff edge.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences using 'despite' is grammatically CORRECT?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No meaningful difference in meaning; 'despite' is slightly more formal and concise. They are interchangeable.
: Not directly. You must use 'despite the fact that' + subject + verb. Incorrect: *'Despite he left...'. Correct: 'Despite the fact that he left...'.
: No, it is always incorrect. The correct forms are 'despite' (without 'of') or 'in spite of' (with 'of').
: It is most commonly a preposition. Its historical uses as a noun and verb are now archaic and extremely rare.