plural deviations
1
: an action, behavior, or condition that is different from what is usual or expected
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.
The book discusses sexual deviation [=deviance] in serial killers.
2
technical
: the difference between the average of a group of numbers and a particular number in that group
Cite this Entry
“Deviation.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/deviation. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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