variant

American  

[vair-ee-uhnt] / ˈvɛər i ənt /

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 British  

/ 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

Etymology

Origin of variant

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”; cf. various; see -ant

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

Researchers do not yet understand exactly how this fibronectin variant relates to senescence, but the finding could help scientists better define what makes senescent cells unique.

From Science Daily • May 15, 2026

The variant of the hantavirus suspected in both outbreaks is transmitted through the droppings, saliva and urine of the Andean mouse.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

"The Andes variant of this virus does not spread easily, and it requires prolonged close contact with someone who is already symptomatic."

From BBC • May 11, 2026

The WHO assumes the hantavirus is the Andes variant, known in Argentina, where initial patients boarded the ship.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

So whichever dictionary you choose, read the user manual in the front to see how yours handles multiple or variant pronunciations.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Related Words

• modification
• variation