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

It offers a powerful resource for pandemic preparedness, enabling deeper understanding of variant behavior and fitness.

Read more on Science Daily

Abrams tanks, South Korean multiple rocket launchers and a Polish variant of the U.S.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Covid is also doing the rounds, driven by two new variants – XFG, called Stratus by some, and NB.1.8.1, known as Nimbus.

Read more on BBC

Two deadly crashes involving the jets resulted in a global grounding of the fleet in 2019 and delayed two new variants.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Model Y price compares with $44,990 for the Long Range Rear Wheel Drive variant 2025 Model Y, which was refreshed earlier this year.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• modification 
• variation