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.

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

The category encompasses the quintile of stocks with the lowest variation in price moves, emphasizing value sectors like healthcare and financials.

From Barron's • May 28, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026

According to the authors, only 1 to 4% of genetic differentiation among living human populations can be traced to variation between these ancestral stem populations.

From Science Daily • Apr. 26, 2026

And second, once born, that gross-beaked finch must be able to transmit the same trait to its offspring, thereby fixing the variation for generations to come.

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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