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

Children ages 5 to 14 can participate in a wide variety of free recreational, educational and social activities, including sports, games, and arts and crafts, according to a news release. —Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026

My go-to bone broth is Boneafide Provisions—their chicken and beef varieties are great, and are widely accessible at supermarkets. —Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026

The efforts of their Gabriel and Yaara Plotkin Family Foundation span the local community and beyond, helping Israelis and South Florida Jews through a variety of different platforms. —Jessica Tzikas, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026

Show visitors can browse a wide variety of craft, including bowriders, center consoles, deck boats, flats boats, pontoons and surf boats. —Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026

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