variety

[ vuh-rahy-i-tee ]

/ vəˈraɪ ɪ ti /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR variety ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

QUIZZES

IT’S A WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ BONANZA!

This windfall of words will make you rich with knowledge. Mine your memory on the words from July 27 to August 2!

Question 1 of 7

What does "scattergood" mean?

a person who acts as though he or she knows everything and who dismisses the opinions, comments, or suggestions of others.

a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; spendthrift.

a well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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.

4 kind, sort, class, species.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR variety ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR variety

1 sameness.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR variety ON THESAURUS.COM

usage note for variety

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.

OTHER WORDS FROM variety

non·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.

Words nearby variety

variegated, variegate porphyria, variegation, varier, varietal, variety, Variety is the spice of life, variety meat, variety store, varifocal, varifocals

Example sentences 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

/ (vəˈraɪɪtɪ) /

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

taxonomy a race whose distinct characters are insufficient to justify classification as a separate species; a subspecies
horticulture stockbreeding a 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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

variety

noun, plural va·ri·e·ties.

adjective

QUIZZES

IT’S A WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ BONANZA!

Origin of variety

SYNONYMS FOR variety

ANTONYMS FOR variety

usage note for variety

OTHER WORDS FROM variety

Words nearby variety

Example sentences from the Web for variety

British Dictionary definitions for variety

noun plural -ties

Word Origin for variety

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

variety

noun, plural va·ri·e·ties.

adjective

QUIZZES

IT’S A WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ BONANZA!

Origin of variety

SYNONYMS FOR variety

ANTONYMS FOR variety

usage note for variety

OTHER WORDS FROM variety

Words nearby variety

Words related to variety

Example sentences from the Web for variety

British Dictionary definitions for variety

noun plural -ties

Word Origin for variety