variant

[vair-ee-uhnt]

adjective

1. tending to change or alter; exhibiting variety or diversity; varying.

   variant shades of color.

2. not agreeing or conforming; differing, especially from something of the same general kind.

3. not definitive, as a version of part of a text; different; alternative.

   a variant reading.

4. not universally accepted.

noun

1. a person or thing that varies.

2. a different spelling, pronunciation, or form of the same word.

   “Vehemency” is a variant of “vehemence.”

3. Microbiology, Pathology.,  a form of a virus, bacterium, or other microorganism that arises from a strain of the microorganism when a mutation changes a small part of the strain’s genetic code.

variant

/ ˈvɛərɪənt /

adjective

1. liable to or displaying variation

2. differing from a standard or type

   a variant spelling

3. obsolete,  not constant; fickle

noun

1. something that differs from a standard or type

2. statistics another word for variate

Other Word Forms

• nonvariant adjective
• unvariant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of variant¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English variaunt(e), variant(e) “undergoing change, tending to change, changeable,” from Old French, from Latin variant-, stem of variāns, present participle of variāre “to mark or adorn with different colors”; various; -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of variant¹

C14: via Old French from Latin variāns, from variāre to diversify, from varius _various

Example Sentences

Baroness Hallet said Welsh ministers had failed to take "decisive action" against an "entirely foreseeable" Covid variant resulting in the lockdown.

Read more on BBC

But by mid-December a new, more infectious variant of the virus is spreading and millions living in the south-east of England are told at short notice that Christmas mixing will be cancelled.

Read more on BBC

The researchers now face several challenges, including finding partners interested in PKD therapies, accessing technology needed to generate more antibody variants, and identifying additional biological targets that may be suitable for similar strategies.

Read more on Science Daily

The modern human version of NOVA1 differs from the variant seen in Neanderthals and other extinct hominids, although the reason for this evolutionary change was previously unclear.

Read more on Science Daily

A newer variant: private dinner clubs, where members get haute cuisine, personalized service and the ability to secure a table whenever they want.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• modification 
• variation