noun
Uncommon
deviation
dee-vee-AY-shuhn
Deviation (noun) means a departure from an expected, planned, or normal course of action. Example: “Any deviation from the safety procedure must be reported immediately.”
noun
1
A departure from an expected, planned, or normal course of action.
"Any deviation from the safety procedure must be reported immediately."
"Her essay showed a clear deviation from the usual exam answer."
2
In statistics, a measure of how far a single value differs from the average.
"The standard deviation tells you how spread out the data is."
How to use deviation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA move or difference away from what is normal, expected, or planned.
Common pairings
standard deviation
deviation from the norm
minor deviation
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Word forms
- Plural
- deviations
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Any _____ from the safety procedure must be reported immediately.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin dēviātiō, from dēviāre, "to turn off the road" — built from de- ("off") + via ("way").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for deviation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for deviation →
Frequently asked questions
What does “deviation” mean?
The word “deviation” means a departure from an expected, planned, or normal course of action. In plain terms, a move or difference away from what is normal, expected, or planned.
How do you pronounce “deviation”?
“Deviation” is pronounced dee-vee-AY-shuhn (/ˌdiviˈeɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “deviation” in a sentence?
Here is “deviation” used in a sentence: “Any deviation from the safety procedure must be reported immediately.”
What part of speech is “deviation”?
“Deviation” is a noun.
Where does the word “deviation” come from?
The word “deviation” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin dēviātiō, from dēviāre, "to turn off the road" — built from de- ("off") + via ("way").
Is “deviation” a common word?
“Deviation” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “deviation” have?
“Deviation” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a departure from an expected, planned, or normal course of action.
