# variant

/ˈvɛɹiənt/ (US) · /vˈeəɹiənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/variant
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a different version

noun · CEFR B2

a version of something that is slightly different from the main or standard type.

For teachers: a form or version of something that differs in some respect from other forms of the same thing or from a standard.

- Scientists are studying a new variant of the virus to see if it spreads faster.
- The researchers identified several genetic variants that appear to influence how the body processes certain types of medication.

### 2. linguistic form

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

a different way of spelling or saying a word that has the same meaning.

For teachers: one of two or more different forms of a word or other linguistic item.

- The word 'colour' is the British variant of the American 'color'.
- The dictionary lists several regional variants for the term, reflecting the diverse dialectal history of the northern provinces.

Usage: Often used with 'of' to indicate the relationship to the standard form.

### 3. computing variable

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of data in a computer program that can hold different kinds of information.

For teachers: a data type in certain programming languages that can represent and store values of various, unrelated types.

- The programmer used a variant to store the user's input because it could be a number or a string.
- Using a variant type provides flexibility in dynamic languages, though it can lead to performance overhead compared to strictly typed variables.

### 4. different or diverse

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

different from others or showing variety.

For teachers: exhibiting variation or difference; differing from a standard or from other members of a group.

- The two groups had variant opinions on how to solve the problem.
- The manuscript exists in several variant forms, making it difficult for historians to determine which version is the most authentic.

## Examples

- The scientists are studying a new variant of the virus.
- The software developer released a mobile variant of the application to reach users on different devices.
- Linguists often document every regional variant of a dialect to understand how geographical isolation influences the evolution of specific vowel sounds over several generations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.