dɪsˈkɹɛpənsi ɪˈdɪʃən fɔːm fɔɹm ˈvɛːɹi.əns ˈvæɹi.ənts ˈvɛəɹi.ənt ˈvɛəɹi.ənt ˌvɛəɹɪˈeɪʃn̩ ˌvɛəɹiˈeɪʃn̩ ˈvɝʒən ˈvɜːʒən differing from a norm or standard a variant spelling exhibiting variation and change letters variant in size something a little different from others of the same type an experimental version of the night fighter a variant of the same word an emery wheel is the modern variation of a grindstone the boy is a younger edition of his father a variable quantity that is random an event that departs from expectations (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups a new strain of microorganisms