Definitions
01a change or difference
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a change in the amount, level, or form of something.
n. the act or process of varying; a partial change in the state, quality, or quantity of something.
日本語:変化※
“There is a lot of variation in the weather during the spring months.”
“The study observed significant regional variation in the cost of living, with urban centres showing much higher inflation than rural areas.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'in' to specify the subject of change.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a different version
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something that is slightly different from the usual form or from others of the same type.
n. a related but distinct version of a thing that shares a common origin or theme.
日本語:バリエーション※
“The chef created a new variation of the classic chocolate cake.”
“The virus has several variations, each requiring a slightly different approach to treatment and prevention.”
Usage
Commonly followed by 'of' to indicate the original or base form.
03musical theme
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Music Technical
n. a part of a piece of music where the main tune is played in a different way.
n. a formal technique where a musical theme is repeated with alterations to its melody, harmony, or rhythm while remaining recognisable.
日本語:バリエーション※
“The pianist played the theme followed by five difficult variations.”
“The composer's use of rhythmic variation in the third movement provides a stark contrast to the melodic simplicity of the opening theme.”
Synonyms
04biological difference
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Academic
n. differences between living things of the same type, often caused by their genes.
n. the modification of hereditary traits within a species or population, often resulting from genetic or environmental factors.
“Genetic variation helps a species survive when its environment changes.”
“Natural selection acts upon the phenotypic variation present within a population, favouring individuals with traits better suited to their ecological niche.”
05linguistic choice
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Academic · Technical
n. when speakers use different words or sounds to mean the same thing.
n. the existence of competing linguistic forms within a single language, often determined by social or regional factors.
“The way people say 'water' is a common example of regional variation.”
“Sociolinguistic variation often reflects the speaker's identity, with certain phonological features marking membership in a specific social class.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “variation” in context.
Verb
01. examine variation
“Scientists need to examine variation in the data to understand the climate trends.”
verb + noun
02. explain variation
“The researcher attempted to explain variation between the two experimental groups.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. considerable variation
“There is considerable variation in the quality of the products across different stores.”
adj + noun
04. significant variation
“The study found significant variation in the results depending on the participants' age.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. variation in
“We noticed a slight variation in temperature throughout the afternoon.”
noun + prep
Real-World Examples
“Volcanic eruptions can have the opposite effect by sending particles into the atmosphere that reflect sunlight, while changes in the Sun's activity can also produce smaller temperature variations.” “A new University at Buffalo-led study, published on July 24 in Science Advances , suggests that brown tree snakes possess far more genetic variation than scientists previously recognized.” “Variation was also seen among individual cells of the same type.” Etymology
From Middle French variation, from Old French variacion, from Latin variātiō, from vary + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/variation
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