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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

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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

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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 home’s appeal extends beyond the main residence, with two additional detached structures that could accommodate a variety of uses.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026

Nandy said there were reasonable grounds to believe the deal could affect free expression in the media and the variety of Britain's news landscape.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Indeed, it is the variety and profundity of his music since 1977 that continues to make him one of his genre’s most intriguing artists.

From Salon ● Oct. 14, 2026

New York City Ballet’s fall season, through Sunday, kicked off last month with a weeklong run of George Balanchine’s 1967 “Jewels,” a mixed bill of marvelous variety and contrasts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

There was every size from a variety of countries—America, Czechoslovakia, Poland, France, and others.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

No doubt she would have given high marks to Ms. Fullerton, whose book finds merit in catness of all varieties.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

But the historic varieties "withstand drought and extreme heat better", particularly Carnaroli Classico which has awns -- slender, bristle-like extensions -- which are thought to help protect it against both heat and cold.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

But Unsworth, who leads foraging trips across Lancashire, warned people not to eat wild mushrooms unless they were certain they had identified them correctly, as some poisonous species can closely resemble edible varieties.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

“Four hundred SKUs spread across multiple brands means that Conagra has varieties that are competing against each other,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026

Hence early farmers either had to find mutant trees not requiring cross-pollination, or had consciously to plant genetically different varieties or else male and female individuals nearby in the same orchard.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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Related Words

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

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