variation

[vair-ee-ey-shuhn] / ˌvɛər iˈeɪ ʃən /

NOUN

difference; alternative

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abnormality alteration change deviation discrepancy disparity divergence diversity fluctuation innovation modification mutation shift variety

STRONG

aberration adaptation bend break contradistinction contrast curve deflection departure digression displacement dissimilarity dissimilitude distinction diversification exception inequality novelty swerve turn

WEAK

departure from the norm unconformity

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agreement harmony sameness similarity stagnation uniformity

STRONG

conformity continuation equality likeness line normality regularity

WEAK

root source

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A Federal Reserve paper published last year found substantial and arbitrary variation in agent commissions across metropolitan areas.

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

Several of the aptamers attached to a variation of fibronectin, a protein found on the surface of mouse cells.

From Science Daily • May 15, 2026

But it stresses that is an average and there could be considerable variation, and that estimate will depend partly on the outlook for energy prices, which have a wide economic impact.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

The company said in mid-April that each one dollar variation in the price of a barrel has a $340 million impact on its annual operating profit before tax.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

The most striking examples of variation involved flies collected from the same region that possessed two radically different configurations of the same genes.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Vocabulary lists containing variation

Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List

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"Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan

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Genetics - Inheritance and Variation of Traits

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