Deviation
/ˌdiːviˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe act of departing from an established course, standard, or norm.
/ˌdiːviˈeɪʃən/
The action of departing from an established course or accepted standard.
The company's performance showed a significant deviation from its projected revenue.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're on a hike, and you decide to wander off the main trail to explore a cool waterfall. That little off-the-path adventure is a deviation! It's a change from the regular route.
👶 For kids: When you do something that's different from what's usual, like taking a different route to school.
More Examples
Her unusual behavior was considered a deviation from her normally reserved personality.
The pilot made a slight deviation from the flight plan due to the weather.
How It's Used
"The standard deviation measures the spread of data points around the mean."
"Any deviation from normal behavior was noted during the observation period."
"The ship's course showed a slight deviation due to a strong current."
The amount of difference between a value and a norm.
/ˌdiːviˈeɪʃən/
The amount by which something deviates.
The deviation from the target weight was within acceptable limits.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're measuring the height of trees. If most trees are 20 feet tall, but one is 25 feet, the 'deviation' is how much higher that tree is – 5 feet! It's the amount something differs from the average.
👶 For kids: How much something is different from what is expected.
More Examples
The standard deviation of the test scores was relatively high, indicating a wider range of performance.
There was a large deviation between the predicted and actual results.
How It's Used
"The measured deviation in the experiment was very small."
"Calculate the standard deviation of these data sets."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
From Latin *deviatio*, from *de-*, 'away', and *via*, 'road, way'. It originally signified a 'turning aside' or 'departure from a course'.
Used since the 15th century to describe a turning aside or departure from a path or principle.
Memory tip
Think of a detour, a path that deviates from the main road.
Word Origin
"To turn away from a road or path."