variety

[vuh-rahy-i-tee]

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noun, plural va·ri·e·ties.

the state of being varied or diversified: to give variety to a diet.

difference; discrepancy.

a number of different types of things, especially ones in the same general category: a large variety of fruits.

a kind or sort.

a different form, condition, or phase of something: varieties of pastry; a variety of economic reforms.

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

a type of animal or plant produced by artificial selection.

Philately. a stamp differing from others of the same issue through an accident other than an error of an artist or printer.Compare error(def 8), freak¹(def 5).

Also called variety show. entertainment of mixed character, consisting of a number of individual performances or acts, as of singing, dancing, or skits.Compare vaudeville(def 1).

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of a variety: a variety performer.

Nearby words

Origin of variety

1525–35; < Latin varietās, equivalent to vari(us) various + -etās, variant of -itās -ity after a vowel

SYNONYMS FOR variety

1. diversity, multiplicity. 3. assortment, collection, group. 5. kind, sort, class, species.

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ANTONYMS FOR variety

1. sameness.

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Related formsnon·va·ri·e·ty, noun, plural non·va·ri·e·ties.o·ver·va·ri·e·ty, nounsub·va·ri·e·ty, noun, plural sub·va·ri·e·ties.

Usage note

3, 5. 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, number.

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

Examples from the Web for variety

A variety of systems were in place across countries like the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But this approach can be troublesome for a variety of reasons.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots|Emily Shire|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Klaus espouses inflammatory views on a variety of subjects, some of which Cato happily embraced.
Vaclav Klaus, Libertarian Hero, Has His Wings Clipped by Cato Institute|James Kirchick|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In this day and age, this “help” comes in a variety of forms, from creative writing courses to ghost writers.
Meet Zoella—The Newbie Author Whose Book Sales Topped J.K. Rowling|Lucy Scholes|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Despite their variety, Turkers have something in common—a lack of power.
Amazon’s Turkers Kick Off the First Crowdsourced Labor Guild|Kevin Zawacki|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
All this will give an idea of the variety of duties of a tea-planter.
Ranching, Sport and Travel|Thomas Carson
These, with the exception of a few saxifrages and daffodils of the variety muticus, were about the last flowers I saw there.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 561, October 2, 1886|Various
Notwithstanding its name this variety is not certainly of Belgian origin.
The Pears of New York|U. P. Hedrick
The beautiful colors so much admired are deposited by the reflected mantle and their variety is almost endless.
Birds and Nature, Vol. 12 No. 2 [July 1902]|Various
These were for him so many means, so many elements of variety.
Gargantua and Pantagruel, Complete.|Francois Rabelais

British Dictionary definitions for variety

variety

noun plural -ties

the quality or condition of being diversified or various

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

a different form or kind within a general category; sortvarieties of behaviour

taxonomya race whose distinct characters are insufficient to justify classification as a separate species; a subspecies
horticulture stockbreedinga strain of animal or plant produced by artificial breeding

entertainment consisting of a series of short unrelated performances or acts, such as comedy turns, songs, dances, sketches, etc
(as modifier)a variety show

Word Origin for variety

C16: from Latin varietās, from 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 variety

variety

1530s, from Middle French variété, from Latin varietatem (nominative varietas) "difference, diversity," from varius "various" (see vary). In reference to "music hall or theatrical performances of a mixed nature," first recorded 1868, American English.

variety

noun, plural va·ri·e·ties.

adjective

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Origin of variety

Usage note

Examples from the Web for variety

variety

noun plural -ties

Word Origin for variety

variety