variation
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a change in the amount, level, or form of something.
the act or process of varying; a partial change in the state, quality, or quantity of something.
Simple“There is a lot of variation in the weather during the spring months.”
In context“The study observed significant regional variation in the cost of living, with urban centres showing much higher inflation than rural areas.”
UsageOften used with the preposition 'in' to specify the subject of change.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
something that is slightly different from the usual form or from others of the same type.
a related but distinct version of a thing that shares a common origin or theme.
Simple“The chef created a new variation of the classic chocolate cake.”
In context“The virus has several variations, each requiring a slightly different approach to treatment and prevention.”
UsageCommonly followed by 'of' to indicate the original or base form.
- 03 C1 Advanced
a part of a piece of music where the main tune is played in a different way.
a formal technique where a musical theme is repeated with alterations to its melody, harmony, or rhythm while remaining recognisable.
Simple“The pianist played the theme followed by five difficult variations.”
In context“The composer's use of rhythmic variation in the third movement provides a stark contrast to the melodic simplicity of the opening theme.”
Synonyms - 04 C1 Advanced
differences between living things of the same type, often caused by their genes.
the modification of hereditary traits within a species or population, often resulting from genetic or environmental factors.
Simple“Genetic variation helps a species survive when its environment changes.”
In context“Natural selection acts upon the phenotypic variation present within a population, favouring individuals with traits better suited to their ecological niche.”
- 05 C2 Proficiency
when speakers use different words or sounds to mean the same thing.
the existence of competing linguistic forms within a single language, often determined by social or regional factors.
Simple“The way people say 'water' is a common example of regional variation.”
In context“Sociolinguistic variation often reflects the speaker's identity, with certain phonological features marking membership in a specific social class.”
Synonymsdiversityalternation
Usage considerable variation · examine variation · explain variation
“Variation was also seen among individual cells of the same type.”
“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.”
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.