definitions

variety

[ vuh-rahy-i-tee ]
/ vəˈraɪ ɪ ti /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR variety ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural va·ri·e·ties.

adjective

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

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RELATED WORDS

mixture, diversity, variation, range, collection, assortment, array, change, soup, category, kind, description, nature, brand, breed, character, strain, quality, medley, multiplicity

Nearby words

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

Origin of variety

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

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
  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
  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

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

n.

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.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper