variety

American  

[vuh-rahy-i-tee] / vəˈraɪ ɪ ti /

noun

varieties plural

1. the state of being varied or diversified.

   to give variety to a diet.

   Synonyms:

   multiplicity, diversity

   Antonyms:

   sameness

2. a number of different types of things, especially ones in the same general category.

   A variety of tropical plants dominate the hotel porch.

   The variety of baked goods is impressive.

   Synonyms:

   group, collection, assortment

3. a kind or sort.

   This variety of yogurt is especially dense because it has very little whey.

4. a particular form, condition, or phase of something.

   Artistic pursuits of every variety are represented here.

   Synonyms:

   species, class, sort, kind

5. a category within a species, based on some hereditary difference.

6. a type of animal or plant produced by artificial selection.

7. Philately. a stamp differing from others of the same issue through an accident other than an error of an artist or printer.

8. Older Use. difference; discrepancy.

9. Also called variety show.  entertainment of mixed character, consisting of a number of individual performances or acts, as of singing, dancing, or skits.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a variety: variety performers.

   a variety store;

   variety performers.

variety British  

/ vəˈraɪɪtɪ /

noun

1. the quality or condition of being diversified or various

2. a collection of unlike things, esp of the same general group; assortment

3. a different form or kind within a general category; sort

   varieties of behaviour

4. 1. taxonomy a race whose distinct characters are insufficient to justify classification as a separate species; a subspecies

   2. horticulture stockbreeding a strain of animal or plant produced by artificial breeding

5. 1. entertainment consisting of a series of short unrelated performances or acts, such as comedy turns, songs, dances, sketches, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a variety show

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Usage

As a collective noun, variety, when preceded by a, is often treated as a plural: A variety of inexpensive goods are sold here. When preceded by the, it is usually treated as a singular: The variety of products is small. See also collective noun.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subvariety
  noun
• overvariety
  noun
• nonvariety
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• varieties
  plural

Etymology

Origin of variety

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin varietās, equivalent to vari(us) various ( def. ) + -etās, variant of -itās -ity ( def. ) after a vowel

Explanation

Variety is a quality similar to diversity or difference. Some feel having variety in life is much more exciting than doing the same routine day in and day out. You’ve likely heard the expression “variety is the spice of life” to describe how our days are more interesting when different things happen. Variety can also describe different things that are classified under one category or type, like varieties of apple — granny smith, pink lady, or red delicious. A variety show is entertainment that includes a number of different and unrelated acts, like fire eaters, string bands, comedians, lounge singers, and spoon players.

Example Sentences

Over the past decade, Lozano's group has tested numerous designs under different operating conditions and with a variety of ionic liquid fuels.

From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026

Fringe is also a win for the public, who have a wide variety of acts and times to choose from.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Bass almost certainly wanted Pratt, not Raman, to advance, because a Pratt campaign would have been simpler for her on a variety of levels.

From Slate • Jun. 9, 2026

But the quality and variety of that steel has been limited for years by the hot-strip mill in West Mifflin, Pa., that dates to 1938.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

“That tactic is...somewhat effective, but you should always have a variety of moves in your repertoire. When you only have one, you become predictable and easy to defeat.”

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Related Words

• assortment
• brand
• breed
• category
• character
• description
• kind
• nature
• quality
• strain