variegated

American  

[vair-ee-i-gey-tid, vair-i-gey-] / ˈvɛər i ɪˌgeɪ tɪd, ˈvɛər ɪˌgeɪ- /

adjective

1. varied in appearance or color; marked with patches or spots of different colors.

2. varied; diversified; diverse.

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variegated British  

/ ˈvɛərɪˌɡeɪtɪd /

adjective

1. displaying differently coloured spots, patches, streaks, etc

2. (of foliage or flowers) having pale patches, usually as a result of mutation, infection, etc

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Other Word Forms

• unvariegated adjective

Etymology

Origin of variegated

First recorded in 1655–65; variegate + -ed ²

Explanation

Something variegated has many different colors, as in the trees of autumn or the feathers of a peacock. Whenever you see "vari" at the beginning of a word, you know that the idea of difference or change is involved. Using vari is a good way to start thinking about this word. It's the same root as in various, variable, varied, and variety. All these words mean something similar: lots of different versions of something. The scales of a fish can appear quite variegated from one angle and then strangely uniform from another. A tiger's variegated coat helps it stay hidden.

Example Sentences

Like his films, Mr. Sayles’s novels are divided among a teeming cast of variegated characters.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

Hamlin's catastrophic on-field collapse and cardiac arrest on January 2, 2023 caused the unprecedented suspension of an NFL game, and brought home for a national TV audience the variegated harms of America's most popular sport.

From Salon • Feb. 11, 2024

“You’ll see variegated and bicolored varieties that may not do well in stuffy show competition, but are favorites in the garden.”

From Seattle Times • Sep. 21, 2023

But O’Connor was a signature musician, too — her first two albums were intimate, vividly intense and full of nimble and variegated singing.

From New York Times • Aug. 3, 2023

But the crotons were lusher than ever and the variegated bougainvilleas she hadn’t thought would take were heavy with pink blossoms.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez