deviation
noun
de·vi·a·tion
ˌdē-vē-ˈā-shən 
: an act or instance of deviating: such as
a
navigation
: deflection of the needle of a compass caused by local magnetic influences (as in a ship)
b
mathematics
: the difference between a value in a frequency distribution and a fixed number (such as the mean)
c
: departure from an established ideology or party line
deviation from Communist orthodoxy
d
: noticeable or marked departure from accepted norms (see norm sense 2) of behavior
Examples of deviation in a Sentence
There have been slight deviations in the satellite's orbit.
Having juice instead of coffee was a deviation from his usual routine.
The pattern's deviation from the norm is significant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Epitaxial growth of SiC on wafers requires temperatures above 2732°F and precise precursor chemistry; even small process deviations can generate micropipe defects that render devices inoperable.
—
Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
Inside his brilliance lies a complex vibrato, leading to the richest of articulated vocals, even some soulful deviation that lean towards hints of melisma.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 1 June 2026
The application calls for neighborhood development and site development permits for work within the public right of way fronting 1595 Coast Walk, including deviations to allow a new driveway and for two existing guest parking spaces to remain.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Restaurants in some touristy neighborhoods like Miami Beach might slap on a tip of their own for large parties or try and sneak an automatic tip past you, but in general, there weren’t too many deviations.
—Connie Ogle
updated May 27, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for deviation
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Aditya Jadhav, Interesting Engineering, 1 June 2026
Inside his brilliance lies a complex vibrato, leading to the richest of articulated vocals, even some soulful deviation that lean towards hints of melisma.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 1 June 2026
The application calls for neighborhood development and site development permits for work within the public right of way fronting 1595 Coast Walk, including deviations to allow a new driveway and for two existing guest parking spaces to remain.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Restaurants in some touristy neighborhoods like Miami Beach might slap on a tip of their own for large parties or try and sneak an automatic tip past you, but in general, there weren’t too many deviations.
—Connie Ogle
updated May 27, Miami Herald, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for deviation
Cite this Entry
“Deviation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deviation. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deviation
noun
de·vi·a·tion
ˌdē-vē-ˈā-shən
: an act or instance of deviating: as
a
: the difference found by subtracting some fixed number (as the arithmetic mean of a series of statistical data) from any item of the series
b
: noticeable difference from accepted standards (as of behavior or morals)
Medical Definition
deviation
noun
de·vi·a·tion
ˌdē-vē-ˈā-shən
: an act or instance of diverging from an established way or in a new direction: as
a
: evolutionary differentiation involving interpolation of new stages in the ancestral pattern of morphogenesis
b
: noticeable or marked departure from accepted norms of behavior
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