variety

American  

[vuh-rahy-i-tee] / vəˈraɪ ɪ ti /

noun

• varieties
  plural

1. the state of being varied or diversified.

   to give variety to a diet.

   Synonyms:

   multiplicity, diversity

   Antonyms:

   sameness

2. a number of different types of things, especially ones in the same general category.

   A variety of tropical plants dominate the hotel porch.

   The variety of baked goods is impressive.

   Synonyms:

   group, collection, assortment

3. a kind or sort.

   This variety of yogurt is especially dense because it has very little whey.

4. a particular form, condition, or phase of something.

   Artistic pursuits of every variety are represented here.

   Synonyms:

   species, class, sort, kind

5. a category within a species, based on some hereditary difference.

6. a type of animal or plant produced by artificial selection.

7. Philately. a stamp differing from others of the same issue through an accident other than an error of an artist or printer.

8. Older Use. difference; discrepancy.

9. Also called variety show.  entertainment of mixed character, consisting of a number of individual performances or acts, as of singing, dancing, or skits.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a variety: variety performers.

   a variety store;

   variety performers.

variety British  

/ vəˈraɪɪtɪ /

noun

1. the quality or condition of being diversified or various

2. a collection of unlike things, esp of the same general group; assortment

3. a different form or kind within a general category; sort

   varieties of behaviour

4. 1. taxonomy a race whose distinct characters are insufficient to justify classification as a separate species; a subspecies

   2. horticulture stockbreeding a strain of animal or plant produced by artificial breeding

5. 1. entertainment consisting of a series of short unrelated performances or acts, such as comedy turns, songs, dances, sketches, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a variety show

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Usage

As a collective noun, variety, when preceded by a, is often treated as a plural: A variety of inexpensive goods are sold here. When preceded by the, it is usually treated as a singular: The variety of products is small. See also collective noun.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonvariety
  noun
• overvariety
  noun
• subvariety
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• varieties
  plural

Etymology

Origin of variety

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin varietās, equivalent to vari(us) various ( def. ) + -etās, variant of -itās -ity ( def. ) after a vowel

Explanation

Variety is a quality similar to diversity or difference. Some feel having variety in life is much more exciting than doing the same routine day in and day out. You’ve likely heard the expression “variety is the spice of life” to describe how our days are more interesting when different things happen. Variety can also describe different things that are classified under one category or type, like varieties of apple — granny smith, pink lady, or red delicious. A variety show is entertainment that includes a number of different and unrelated acts, like fire eaters, string bands, comedians, lounge singers, and spoon players.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

variety varieties

The benefits were seen across a wide variety of patients, including people with different levels of disease severity and different body types.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 1, 2026

But a series of short-lived soccer assignments for a variety of outlets in the UK, including the BBC and ESPN, won her an audition with the U.S. network.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

The only problem with so much variety is paying for it all.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026

Tombs in the city date to a variety of historical periods, she added.

From Barron's ● Aug. 29, 2026

For variety she found straggly mhuvuyu, blackjack weeds, and cooked their leaves as a kind of spinach.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

Other local farmers have followed suit, focusing on the premium Ri6, Musang King and Dona varieties.

From Barron's ● Aug. 30, 2026

It then broadened its restrictions on additional fertilizer varieties in March and halted most sulfuric-acid exports beginning in May.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

Cowin addresses us directly, sharing her anxieties about aging, particularly the varieties of physical decline.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

The study, published in ACS Food Science & Technology, focused on three varieties made by Nettlebed Creamery in Oxfordshire.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

Not so lucky is the woman next to him: she has a different set of HLAs, which are able to pick up and transport only eight of the ten varieties.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• assortment
• brand
• breed
• category
• character
• description
• kind
• nature
• quality
• strain