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variant

noun

  1. something close to but not exactly the same as an original version
  2. something that differs from others of the same kind or from a standard, as a different spelling or pronunciation of a word
  3. one of two or more words (such as geographic and geographical) or word elements (such as mon- and mono-) of essentially the same meaning differing only in the presence or absence of an affix
L14839 on Wikidata ↗

adjective

  1. differing from others of the same kind or from a standard
  2. having or exhibiting variation; varying
L342320 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈvɛəɹi.ənt/ / /ˈvæɹi.ənt/ / /ˈvɛɹi.ənt/

adj

Etymology: From Old French variant, from Latin variāns, the present active participle of variō (“to change”). First attested in c. 1380.

  1. Showing variety, diverse.
  2. Showing deviation or disagreement.
  3. Variable.
  4. Covariant and/or contravariant.

noun

Etymology: From Old French variant, from Latin variāns, the present active participle of variō (“to change”). First attested in c. 1380.

  1. Something that is slightly different from a type or norm.

    All breeds of dog are variants of the species “Canis lupus familiaris”.

  2. A different sequence of a gene (locus).

    Most train operators have reduced services with emergency timetables, as they struggle to cope with a rapid increase in staff absences due to the Omicron variant of COVID.

  3. A variable that can hold any of various unrelated data types.
  4. One of a set of words or other linguistic forms that conveys the same meaning or serves the same function.

    The word "kerosine" is a variant of “kerosene”.

    The "Terms" number is the total number of words and lexical phrases, including sub-headwords and other nested lexical items, but exclusive of variants.