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.

Although all whales produced relatively few offspring, there was greater variation among males.

From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2026

The Environment Agency said it was satisfied the variation met environmental legislative requirements and provided a high level of protection for human health and the environment.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

Most, argues the researcher, a distinguished professor of psychology at UC Riverside, say some variation of “I love you.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

Not only did variation and dip diverge from place to place, but in 1634 a group of English experimenters claimed that variation fluctuated over time.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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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