variant Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an event that departs from expectations
    variance; discrepancy.
  2. noun (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups
    strain; var.; form.
    • a new strain of microorganisms
  3. noun a variable quantity that is random
    chance variable; stochastic variable; variate; random variable.
  4. noun something a little different from others of the same type
    edition; version; variation.
    • an experimental version of the night fighter
    • a variant of the same word
    • an emery wheel is the modern variation of a grindstone
    • the boy is a younger edition of his father
  5. adjective satellite differing from a norm or standard
    • a variant spelling
  6. adjective satellite exhibiting variation and change
    • letters variant in size

WordNet

Va"ri*ant adjective
Etymology
L. varians, p. pr. of variare to change: cf. F. variant. See Vary.
Definitions
  1. Varying in from, character, or the like; variable; different; diverse.
  2. Changeable; changing; fickle. Obs.
    He is variant, he abit [abides] nowhere. Chaucer.
Va"ri*ant noun
Etymology
Cf. F. variante.
Definitions
  1. Something which differs in form from another thing, though really the same; as, a variant from a type in natural history; a variant of a story or a word.

Webster 1913