Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Related Topic Clusters

Finance and Business Reporting Words

Vocabulary for clear reporting, forecasting, and executive summary writing.

Variance

//ˈvɛə.ɹi.əns// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The act of varying or the state of being variable. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    an activity that varies from a norm or standard wordnet
  3. 3
    A difference between what is expected and what is observed; deviation. countable, uncountable

    "Certain other factors were considered to explain the variance from expected figures. All seven aviators smoked. Each considered himself to be in good physical condition, though none found the time to exercise regularly. No aviator was obese."

  4. 4
    an official dispensation to act contrary to a rule or regulation (typically a building regulation) wordnet
  5. 5
    The state of differing or being in conflict. countable, uncountable

    "But here, again, is the old variance between nature and fortune: each seems to delight in marring the work of the other."

Show 11 more definitions
  1. 6
    the quality of being subject to variation wordnet
  2. 7
    An official permit to do something that is ordinarily forbidden by regulations. countable, uncountable
  3. 8
    a difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions wordnet
  4. 9
    A discrepancy between two legal documents. countable, uncountable
  5. 10
    the second moment around the mean; the expected value of the square of the deviations of a random variable from its mean value wordnet
  6. 11
    A departure from a cause of action originally in a complaint. countable, uncountable
  7. 12
    discord that splits a group wordnet
  8. 13
    The second central moment in probability; the square of the standard deviation. countable, uncountable
  9. 14
    an event that departs from expectations wordnet
  10. 15
    The number of degrees of freedom in a system. countable, uncountable
  11. 16
    Covariance and contravariance generally. countable, uncountable

    "Depending on the variance of the type constructor, the subtyping relation of the simple types may be either preserved, reversed, or ignored for the respective complex types."

Etymology

From Middle English variance, variaunce, equivalent to vary + -ance, from Old French variance or directly from Anglo-Latin variaunce, veriaunce, wariaunce; all from Latin variantia.

See also for "variance"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: variance