deviation
Americannoun
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the act of deviating.
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departure from a standard or norm.
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Statistics. the difference between one of a set of values and some fixed value, usually the mean of the set.
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Navigation. the error of a magnetic compass, as that of a ship, on a given heading as a result of local magnetism.
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Optics.
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Also called deflection. the bending of rays of light away from a straight line.
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departure or divergence from an established dogma or ideology, especially a Communist one.
noun
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an act or result of deviating
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statistics the difference between an observed value in a series of such values and their arithmetic mean
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the error of a compass due to local magnetic disturbances
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of deviation
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin dēviātiōn-, stem of dēviātiō; equivalent to deviate + -ion
Explanation
Anything that varies from the accepted norm or standard is called a deviation. It is common in math and science, but it can refer to anything that differs from the expected. Deviation in nature is an important part of evolution. When something causes a creature’s DNA to change, it creates a deviation, or a changed characteristic. If the deviation makes the organism better able to survive, it passes the change on to its descendants. People are naturally given to change, so there are deviations in critical thought as well as in math and science. Those deviations often account for the creativity that gives rise to new ideas, or theories, or even musical styles.
Vocabulary lists containing deviation
30 GRE Words Beginning with "D"
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"Tinker v. Des Moines": Excerpts from Justice Fortas's Opinion
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This Week In Words: August 31–September 6, 2019
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s the first real deviation from the dead-eyed cycle of his daily life since his wife grabbed her car keys and never looked back.
From Salon • May 30, 2026
Their final result brought theoretical predictions and experimental measurements into agreement within less than half a standard deviation.
From Science Daily • May 19, 2026
Tesla’s average analyst price target is $408 with a 35% standard deviation, implying wider outcomes than other tech giants.
From Barron's • May 4, 2026
A better measure, Crill says, is the ratio of the 60/40 portfolio’s standard deviation to that of an all-stock portfolio.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026
No other breed falls outside the standard deviation.
From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
