# variety

/vɝˈaɪəti/ (US) · /vəɹˈaɪəti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/variety
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a range of different things

noun · CEFR A2

a lot of different things of the same general type.

For teachers: a collection or number of different things within a particular category. Often used with the preposition 'of'.

- The shop sells a wide variety of fresh bread every morning.
- The university offers a variety of extracurricular activities, ranging from competitive sports to niche academic societies.

Usage: When 'a variety of' is the subject, the verb is usually plural because the focus is on the many items.

### 2. the quality of being different

noun · CEFR B1

the quality of being different or having many parts, which makes something interesting.

For teachers: the quality or state of being varied or diverse; the absence of monotony.

- I like my job because there is a lot of variety in my daily tasks.
- The composer introduced rhythmic variety into the second movement to prevent the repetitive melody from becoming tedious.

Usage: Often functions as an uncountable noun in this sense.

### 3. a specific type

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a specific type of a plant, animal, or thing.

For teachers: a specific sort, kind, or type; in biology, a taxonomic rank below species.

- This specific variety of tomato grows very well in cold weather.
- Botanists identified a rare variety of orchid that only blooms during the peak of the rainy season.

### 4. entertainment show

noun · CEFR B2 · General-service

a type of entertainment with many different acts, like singing, dancing, and magic.

For teachers: a genre of entertainment consisting of a series of unrelated performances, such as comedy, music, and acrobatics.

- We watched an old-fashioned variety show on television last night.
- The theatre's winter programme features a traditional variety performance designed to appeal to families and tourists alike.

## Examples

- The shop sells a wide variety of fresh fruit.
- The local library offers a great variety of books for both children and adults.
- While the basic structure of the language remains constant, regional dialects provide a rich variety of vocabulary and pronunciation that reflects the area's unique history.

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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.