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
The term refers to a steepening deviation between upper and lower economic classes, popularized after the Covid-19 pandemic disproportionately hit underprivileged groups.
—
Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Medical research has historically treated the female body as a deviation from a male baseline, leaving critical gaps in understanding that have real-world consequences.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 11 May 2026
The only deviations from the hue can be found on the steel screws on the bezel, the titanium caseback and crown chip, and the white accents on the dial.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 May 2026
Percy and Richardson's deaths came a few weeks after Fergus (César Domboy) was killed off in a major deviation from Diana Gabaldon's book series, of which the Starz series is based.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for deviation
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Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Medical research has historically treated the female body as a deviation from a male baseline, leaving critical gaps in understanding that have real-world consequences.
—Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 11 May 2026
The only deviations from the hue can be found on the steel screws on the bezel, the titanium caseback and crown chip, and the white accents on the dial.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 May 2026
Percy and Richardson's deaths came a few weeks after Fergus (César Domboy) was killed off in a major deviation from Diana Gabaldon's book series, of which the Starz series is based.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 8 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 17 May. 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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