variance
variance Lexical Profile
variance Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The state, fact, or quality of being different, divergent, or inconsistent; an instance of discrepancy between two things.
"The auditor noticed a significant variance between the projected budget and the actual expenditures."
In statistics and probability theory, a quantitative measure of the spread or dispersion of a set of numbers, calculated as the average of the squared differences from the mean.
"A low variance indicates that the data points tend to be very close to the expected mean."
North American An official permit or exemption granted by a municipal authority allowing a property owner to deviate from standard zoning or building regulations.
"The homeowners applied to the city council for a zoning variance so they could build a workshop closer to the property line."
Word Nuance & Usage
The idiom 'at variance with' is commonly used in formal contexts to indicate that two facts, opinions, or people are in conflict or disagreement.
• Rhymes for variance
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 14th century from Anglo-French variance, from Latin variantia ('difference, diversity'), derived from the verb variare ('to change or alter').