1. Differing from a norm or standard
   "a variant spelling"
    
2. Exhibiting variation and change
   "letters variant in size"

1. Something a little different from others of the same type
   "a variant of the same word";
   - version, variation, edition
    
2. (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups
   "a new variant of microorganisms";
   - form, strain
    
3. A variable quantity that is random
   "The number of customers arriving each hour was treated as a variant";
   - random variable, variate, stochastic variable, chance variable
    
4. An event that departs from expectations
   "The snow in April was an unusual variant in the weather pattern";
   - discrepancy, variance

Derived forms: variants

See also: different, variable

Type of: departure, deviation, difference, divergence, taxon, taxonomic category, taxonomic group, type, variable, variable quantity

Part of: species

Encyclopedia: Variant