VARIANT

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does variant mean? 

• VARIANT (noun)
  The noun VARIANT has 4 senses:

1. an event that departs from expectations
2. (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups
3. a variable quantity that is random
4. something a little different from others of the same type

  Familiarity information: VARIANT used as a noun is uncommon.

• VARIANT (adjective)
  The adjective VARIANT has 2 senses:

1. differing from a norm or standard
2. exhibiting or tending to variation and change

  Familiarity information: VARIANT used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VARIANT (noun)

Meaning:

An event that departs from expectations

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

variant; variance; discrepancy

Hypernyms ("variant" is a kind of...):

departure; deviation; difference; divergence (a variation that deviates from the standard or norm)

Meaning:

(biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

var.; variant; strain; form

Context example:

a new strain of microorganisms

Hypernyms ("variant" is a kind of...):

taxon; taxonomic category; taxonomic group (animal or plant group having natural relations)

Domain category:

biological science; biology (the science that studies living organisms)

Holonyms ("variant" is a member of...):

species ((biology) taxonomic group whose members can interbreed)

Meaning:

A variable quantity that is random

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

variate; stochastic variable; random variable; chance variable; variant

Hypernyms ("variant" is a kind of...):

variable; variable quantity (a quantity that can assume any of a set of values)

Meaning:

Something a little different from others of the same type

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

version; edition; variant; variation

Context examples:

an experimental version of the night fighter / a variant of the same word / an emery wheel is the modern variation of a grindstone / the boy is a younger edition of his father

Hypernyms ("variant" is a kind of...):

type (a subdivision of a particular kind of thing)

• VARIANT (adjective)

Meaning:

Differing from a norm or standard

Context example:

a variant spelling

Similar:

different (unlike in nature or quality or form or degree)

Meaning:

Exhibiting or tending to variation and change

Context example:

letters variant in size

Similar:

variable (liable to or capable of change)