deviation

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

deviationism

ˌdē-vē-ˈā-shə-ˌni-zəm 

noun

deviationist

ˌdē-vē-ˈā-sh(ə-)nist 

noun or adjective

deviationism

2 of 2

noun (2)

de·​vi·​a·​tion·​ism

plural -s

: defection or divergence from a party line especially of the Communist party

Synonyms of deviation

Noun (1)

• departure
• detour
• divergence
• deflection

Examples of deviation in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Noun

Many proteins have significant regions where limited changes to their amino acid sequence are tolerable and other areas where even a slight deviation from the existing sequence inactivates the protein. — ArsTechnica, 30 Sep. 2026

Bridge lifts usually happen on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the Transportation Department said, though there are a couple of deviations from that schedule this year to accommodate ongoing rehabilitation work on the 110-year-old Lake Street Bridge. — Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026

Astronomers measure these changes in brightness and can use that small deviation to infer that a planet is there. — Thomas Fauchez, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026

This configuration is designed to remain operational despite manufacturing deviations and wear that develops during extended operation. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

see deviate entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing deviation

• mean deviation
• mean square deviation
• standard deviation

Rhymes for deviation

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

Kids 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