variant

[ vair-ee-uh nt ]

/ ˈvɛər i ənt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR variant ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

tending to change or alter; exhibiting variety or diversity; varying: variant shades of color.

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

not definitive, as a version of part of a text; different; alternative: a variant reading.

not universally accepted.

noun

a person or thing that varies.

a different spelling, pronunciation, or form of the same word: “Vehemency” is a variant of “vehemence.”

Nearby words

variable-density wind tunnel, variable-geometry, variable-pitch, variable-rate, variance, variant, variant creutzfeldt-jakob disease, variate, variation, variative, varication

Origin of variant

1325–75; Middle English < Latin variant-, stem of variāns, present participle of variāre to vary; see -ant

Related formsnon·var·i·ant, adjective, nounun·var·i·ant, adjective

Can be confusedvariable variant

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for variant

All of these will end with some variant of the following: Ms. Pembreteaux laughed, then shrugged.
Let’s Lay Out the Odds on Your Crazy Summer|Kelly Williams Brown|May 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If these books are indeed Great American Novels—a distinct category, a variant of excellence—they are generally big in every way.
C.E. Morgan: ‘Light in August’ is Faulkner’s Great American Novel|C.E. Morgan|August 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The variant of malaria prevalent in Northern malarial zones like the Po Valley was enfeebling, but not lethal.
David's Book Club: The Conquest of Malaria|David Frum|July 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
These were the expensive Austrian variant: the sleek silver-and-blue cans that cost roughly $1.50 each.
In Afghanistan, a Boom in Red Bull|Mujib Mashal|May 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST

The Dutch variant appeared in 2010 on the VPRO website – a self-described liberal-Protestant network.
Dutch Board Game Lets You Settle Canaan|Peter Beinart|March 15, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Each chief has three bands on the cheek, but with variant colors and patterns.
Myths and Legends of the Great Plains|Unknown
Where the printed text introduces a hyphen at end-of-line, the hyphen is retained only if that variant is otherwise predominant.
West African studies|Mary Henrietta Kingsley
To vary their menu they now engaged in a locust haul, the result of which was to supply a third variant to the bill of fare.
South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. V (of VI)|Louis Creswicke
Al-Bīrūnī was probably the first; noteworthy is also Johannes Hispalensis, who gives the variant forms for seven and four.
The Hindu-Arabic Numerals|David Eugene Smith
Needless to point out, that we have here a variant of the widespread tale of the man and the snake.
Rumanian Bird and Beast Stories|Anonymous

British Dictionary definitions for variant

variant

/ (ˈvɛərɪənt) /

adjective

liable to or displaying variation

differing from a standard or typea variant spelling

obsolete not constant; fickle

noun

something that differs from a standard or type

statistics another word for variate (def. 1)

Word Origin for variant

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

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 variant (1 of 2)

variant

adj.

late 14c., from Old French variant, from Latin variantem (nominative varians), present participle of variare "to change" (see vary).

Word Origin and History for variant (1 of 2)

variant

1848, from variant (adj.).

Medicine definitions for variant

variant

[ vâr′ē-ənt, văr′- ]

adj.

Having or exhibiting variation; differing.

Tending or liable to vary; variable.

Deviating from a standard, usually by only a slight difference.

n.

Something that differs in form only slightly from something else.

variant

adjective

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of variant

Examples from the Web for variant

British Dictionary definitions for variant

variant

adjective

noun

Word Origin for variant

Word Origin and History for variant (1 of 2)

variant

Word Origin and History for variant (1 of 2)

variant

Medicine definitions for variant

variant

adj.

n.