English · Word Candidate

variant

/ˈvɛəɹi.ənt/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: variants

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Showing variety, diverse.

Adjective

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Showing deviation or disagreement.

Adjective

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

Something that is slightly different from a type or norm.

Noun

Examples

All breeds of dog are variants of the species “Canis lupus familiaris”.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

A different sequence of a gene (locus).

Noun

Examples

Most train operators have reduced services with emergency timetables, as they struggle to cope with a rapid increase in staff absences due to the Omicron variant of COVID.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “variant” mean?

Showing variety, diverse.

Is “variant” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.