gap

A physical opening, space, or break between two things.

• He peered through a small gap in the wooden fence.

• Are there any gaps in the insulation where cold air can get through?

A noticeable difference, disparity, or imbalance between two groups, situations, or measurements.

• The wealth gap between the richest and poorest households continues to widen.

• Did the new policy successfully narrow the achievement gap among students?

A missing part, interruption, or period of absence in continuity, knowledge, or records.

• She explained the five-year gap on her resume during the interview.

• Does this recent discovery fill a major gap in the historical record?