variation
/ˌvɛəɹɪˈeɪʃn̩/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: variations
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing.
Noun
Examples
Plant breeding is always a numbers game.[…]The wild species we use are rich in genetic variation, and individual plants are highly heterozygous and do not breed true. In addition, we are looking for rare alleles, so the more plants we try, the better.
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 2
Meaning · English
A related but distinct thing.
Noun
Examples
When the process didn't work, we tried a variation.
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 “variation” mean?
The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing.
Is “variation” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.