Main Entry:

de·vi·a·tion

Pronunciation:

\ˌdē-vē-ˈā-shən\

Function:

noun

Date:

15th century

: an act or instance of deviating: as a: deflection of the needle of a compass caused by local magnetic influences (as in a ship) b: the difference between a value in a frequency distribution and a fixed number (as the mean) c: departure from an established ideology or party line d: noticeable or marked departure from accepted norms of behavior

— de·vi·a·tion·ism \-shə-ˌni-zəm\ noun

— de·vi·a·tion·ist \-sh(ə-)nist\ noun or adjective