deviation
[dee-vee-ey-shuh n]
- the act of deviating.
- departure from a standard or norm.
- Statistics. the difference between one of a set of values and some fixed value, usually the mean of the set.
- Navigation. the error of a magnetic compass, as that of a ship, on a given heading as a result of local magnetism.Compare variation(def 8).
- Optics.
- Also called deflection.the bending of rays of light away from a straight line.
- angle of deviation.
- departure or divergence from an established dogma or ideology, especially a Communist one.
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Origin of deviation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
aberrationfluctuationdivergencealterationvariationdetourdiversiondisparitydiscrepancybreachmodificationvarianceanomalyirregularityinconsistencyforkdigressionshifttransgressioncrotchExamples from the Web for deviation
Contemporary Examples
And if you feel that way then you will look at every deviation as betrayal of fate, calling, etc.
“The people of Egypt are against this deviation being carried out by the leaders of the army,” he added.
In Deeply Polarized Egypt, Revolution's Social Justice Slogans are Seldom HeardJesse Rosenfeld
October 10, 2013
Palestinian Muslims, for their part, are extremely wary of any deviation from the status quo.
Any deviation from the status quo risks shifting the spotlight onto the moderator, notes Louden.
The deviation is that DiMaggio was the one who did it when he did it.
Historical Examples
The view from the summit, made up for the deviation from my route.
We cannot help remarking the danger of the least deviation from the path of rectitude.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. IFrancis Augustus Cox
In all your dealings with her, can you tax yourself with no deviation from wisdom?
Is He Popenjoy?Anthony Trollope
Confound it, I can make allowance, sir, if you'll tell me your deviation!
Blow The Man DownHolman Day
The compass corrected for Variation and Deviation will show your course.
Lectures in NavigationErnest Gallaudet Draper
deviation
- an act or result of deviating
- statistics the difference between an observed value in a series of such values and their arithmetic mean
- the error of a compass due to local magnetic disturbances
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for deviation
n.
1640s, noun of action from deviate (v.). Statistical sense is from 1858. Related: Deviational.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
deviation
(dē′vē-ā′shən)- A turning away or aside from a normal course.
- An abnormality.
- Deviant behavior or attitudes.
- The difference, especially the absolute difference, between one number in a set and the mean of the set.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
deviation
[dē′vē-ā′shən]
- The difference between one number in a set and the mean of the set.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.