Variant
/ˈveəriənt/
Definitions
2 meaningsA form or version of something that differs from other forms of the same thing.
/ˈveəriənt/
A different form or version of something.
The company released a new variant of its popular smartphone with improved features.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're eating ice cream. A variant is like a different flavor of that ice cream, like chocolate instead of vanilla. It's still ice cream, but it's a little different!
👶 For kids: A variant is a different version of something. Like, there are many variants of the game.
More Examples
The biologist examined a new variant of the gene in the population.
There are several historical variants of the legend of King Arthur.
How It's Used
"Scientists are studying different variants of the virus to understand its mutations."
"The software has several variants, each designed for a specific platform."
"There are many variants in the stories told about Robin Hood."
Exhibiting variation or difference; differing from the standard or normal.
/ˈveəriənt/
Differing from a standard or norm.
The artist chose a variant color scheme for the painting to create a unique effect.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're drawing something. A variant drawing is one that's a little different from the usual way to draw it. It's changed in some way!
👶 For kids: A variant is something that is a little different.
More Examples
The archaeologist discovered variant artifacts, suggesting different cultural influences.
He used a variant approach to solve the problem, which surprised his colleagues.
How It's Used
"The data showed variant results across the different test groups."
"The dialect has some variant pronunciations of certain words."
Synonyms
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Altered
Deviant
Different
Diverse
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Idioms & expressions
variant form
A different version or type of something, especially in writing or design.
"The historian examined several variant forms of the ancient text."
From Latin varians, present participle of variare 'to vary'.
The word 'variant' has been used since the 17th century, initially in the context of literature and different readings of texts. It has evolved to describe differences across various fields.
Memory tip
Think of different versions of the same video game: a variant is just one slightly altered version.