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

• 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

In the state legislature, Salvador has sponsored a variety of bills to regulate AI, including a ban on deepfakes in political campaigns and an initiative to create standards for labeling AI content. —Kyle Ingram, Charlotte Observer, 7 Sep. 2025

The variety of blades can tackle several different pruning jobs, which makes this versatile set your new best friend until the first frost sets in. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025

Alcaraz also has the greater variety of the two players, an area of Sinner’s game that Nadal expects the Italian to work on in the next few years. —Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025

The strong output Friday night involved a variety of players and highlights, and included five passing plays of at least 20 yards and six runs of at least 20. —Jim Keyser, Idaho Statesman, 6 Sep. 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