variant

1 of 2

adjective

var·​i·​ant ˈver-ē-ənt How to pronounce variant (audio)
1
: manifesting variety, deviation, or disagreement
variant interpretations/opinions
2
: varying usually slightly from a usual or standard form
variant readings
variant spellings
variant forms of a disease
a variant bacterial strain
3
obsolete : variable

variant

2 of 2

noun

plural variants
: one of two or more persons or things of the same kind that differ in some way from one another: such as
a
: someone or something that exhibits variation from a type or norm
Scientists now find that a variant of a specific gene may contribute to the disorder …B. Bower
Ambient music, as it is sometimes called, was originally a variant of techno music without the beats.Neil Strauss
We played all kinds of weird and wacky poker variants, many involving wild cards …Anthony Holden
b
: one of two or more different spellings (such as labor and labour) or pronunciations (as of economics \ek-, ēk-\) of the same word
c
: one of two or more words (such as geographic and geographical) or word elements (such as mon- and mono-) of essentially the same meaning differing only in the presence or absence of an affix

Examples of variant in a Sentence

Adjective variant strains of a disease Noun A new variant of the disease has appeared.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
See latest data on cases, variants and more The recommendations come after upheaval at the CDC, including the ouster of its former Director Susan Monarez, who had resisted changes to vaccine policy advanced by Kennedy. Reuters, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025 The album’s first-week sales were bolstered by its availability across four CD variants (one signed), four vinyl editions (one signed), two cassettes, and a deluxe digital download album with a bonus track. Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 5 Oct. 2025 The number includes all of the album’s digital and physical versions thus far, prior to dropping the four new acoustic CD variants. Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2025 Target has the only retail exclusives, and the only ones that are still currently available, with one vinyl variant and three CDs in stores. Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for variant

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English variaunt, borrowed from Anglo-French variant, borrowed from Latin variant-, varians "variegated, various," from present participle of variāre "to make changeable, vary"

Noun

noun derivative of variant entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1849, in the meaning defined at sense b

Time Traveler
The first known use of variant was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Variant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/variant. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

variant

1 of 2 adjective
vari·​ant
ˈver-ē-ənt,
ˈvar-
: differing from others of its kind or class

variant

2 of 2 noun
1
: an individual that shows variation from a type or norm
2
: one of two or more different spellings or pronunciations of the same word

Medical Definition

variant

1 of 2 adjective
var·​i·​ant ˈver-ē-ənt, ˈvar- How to pronounce variant (audio)
: manifesting variety or deviation : varying usually slightly from a usual or standard form
variant forms of the disease
mutations resulting in a variant strain of the bacteria

variant

2 of 2 noun
: one that exhibits variation from a type, norm, or wild type : mutation
a less contagious variant of the virus
To date, nearly 60 genes have been evaluated to determine whether specific genetic variants may be associated with IBS [=irritable bowel syndrome].Yuri A. Saito, Gastroenterology Clinics of North America

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