variant
/ˈvɛəɹi.ənt/ · var·i·ant
noun
- Something that is slightly different from a type or norm. The blue‑eyed Labrador is a variant of the standard breed.
- A different sequence of a gene (locus). Scientists discovered a new variant of the influenza virus that spreads more easily.
- A variable that can hold any of various unrelated data types. In Pascal, the Variant type allows a variable to store integers, strings, or dates.
adjective
- Showing variety, diverse. The garden displayed a variant collection of tropical plants.
- Showing deviation or disagreement. His variant interpretation of the law surprised the judges.
- Variable; subject to change. The weather in the mountains is highly variant.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Did you know? The term “variant” gained widespread public attention during the COVID‑19 pandemic, where scientists tracked viral variants like Delta and Omicron to monitor changes in transmissibility.