variety

noun

va·​ri·​e·​ty və-ˈrī-ə-tē 

plural varieties

1

: the quality or state of having different forms or types : multifariousness

2

: a number or collection of different things especially of a particular class : assortment

3

a

: something differing from others of the same general kind : sort

b

: any of various groups of plants or animals ranking below a species : subspecies

4

: variety show

Synonyms of variety

• diversity
• diverseness

Examples of variety in a Sentence

I was surprised by the variety of the choices that were available.

My life needs more variety.

Recent Examples on the Web

Next week, expect to hear from a variety of ECB voices, including ECB President Christine Lagarde, Executive Board Member Frank Elderson and Board Member Piero Cipollone all taking the stage at different events in Europe. —Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 23 Nov. 2025

Bird flu has been detected in a variety of bird populations since January 2022, and in March of last year, it was found in dairy cows for the first time. —CBS News, 22 Nov. 2025

The positives include the freedom of exploring different cities, spending time in a variety of homes and meeting new people. —Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 22 Nov. 2025

The nonprofit, which began during the pandemic, provides volunteers with food safety training, recipes and ensures that families can request a variety of meals to meet their dietary restrictions in addition to lasagna — which is offered to all, Stangl said. —Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French or Latin; Middle French varieté, borrowed from Latin varietāt-, varietās, from varius "having contrasting colors, various entry 1" + -etāt- -etās, variant of -itās -ity

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing variety

• garden-variety
• sub-variety
• variety is the spice of life
• variety meat
• variety show
• variety store

Rhymes for variety

• anxiety
• impiety
• propriety
• satiety
• sobriety
• society
• antianxiety
• intersociety
• contrariety
• impropriety
• inebriety
• notoriety

Kids Definition

variety

noun

va·​ri·​ety

və-ˈrī-ət-ē

plural varieties

1

: the quality or state of having different forms or types

2

: a number or collection of different things : assortment

3

a

: something differing from others of the class to which it belongs

b

: any of various groups of plants or animals within a species that are separated from other groups by characteristics not constant enough or too unimportant to separate species

Medical Definition

variety

noun

va·​ri·​e·​ty və-ˈrī-ət-ē 

plural varieties

: any of various groups of plants or animals ranking below a species : subspecies