variation

The word “variation” means a change, or the act of changing, in the form, amount, or quality of something. In plain terms, variation is difference or change — whether in temperature, in a recipe, or in a piece of music built around a repeated theme.

“Variation” is pronounced veh-uh-rih-AYSHN (/ˌvɛəɹiˈeɪʃn̩/ in IPA).

Here is “variation” used in a sentence: “There's a lot of variation in prices between the two supermarkets.”

“Variation” is a noun.

The word “variation” comes from Latin. From Old French variacion, from Latin variatio, from variare, "to vary, to change.".

“Variation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Variation” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a change, or the act of changing, in the form, amount, or quality of something.

"Variation" is a change or difference in something — variation in temperature, for example — or a version that differs from the original. "Variety" is a range of different things ("a wide variety of options") or a particular type of something, such as a variety of tomato.

A variant is the differing form itself — a spelling variant, or a variant of a virus. "Variation" names the process or degree of differing ("seasonal variation") and can also mean a differing version, which is where the two words overlap.

Genetic variation is the difference in inherited characteristics among individuals of the same species. It applies the core sense of variation — a difference in form or quality — to genes and traits within a population.