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variant

/ˈvɛriənt/

/ˈvɛriɪnt/

Other forms: variants; variantly

A variant is another version of something. You could say chimps and apes and gorillas are variants in the primate family.

Words often have variants, spellings that vary from region to region or country to country. The British colour and the American color are variants. When a movie or TV show is remade or casts a new actor — like with the string of James Bonds — you could call those movies variants. Where there are variants, there is variety — things aren't all the same.

Definitions of variant
  1. noun
    something a little different from others of the same type
    “a variant of the same word”
    synonyms: edition, variation, version
    see moresee less
    type of:
    type
    a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
  2. noun
    an event that departs from expectations
    synonyms: discrepancy, variance
    see moresee less
    type of:
    departure, deviation, difference, divergence
    a variation that deviates from the standard or norm
  3. noun
    a variable quantity that is random
    synonyms: chance variable, random variable, stochastic variable, variate
    see moresee less
    type of:
    variable, variable quantity
    a quantity that can assume any of a set of values
  4. noun
    (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups
    synonyms: form, strain, var.
    see moresee less
    type of:
    taxon, taxonomic category, taxonomic group
    animal or plant group having natural relations
  5. adjective
    exhibiting variation and change
    “letters variant in size”
    Synonyms:
    variable
    liable to or capable of change
  6. adjective
    differing from a norm or standard
    “a variant spelling”
    Synonyms:
    different
    unlike in nature, quality, form, or degree
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