plural variations
1
: a change in the form, position, condition, or amount of something
color/temperature variations
—often + inextreme variations in temperature
He repeated the story without variation. [=without changing it]
—often + inThere's been a lot of variation in the weather lately. [=the weather has changed often lately]
We need some variation in our routine. [=we need to change/vary our routine]
2
: something that is similar to something else but different in some way
—often + on
His newest book is just a slight variation on a familiar theme.
The meal she served us was an interesting variation on a traditional turkey dinner.
3
music
: a repeated version of a short piece of music with changes in its rhythm, tune, or harmony
—often + on
variations on a theme by Haydn
Cite this Entry
“Variation.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/variation. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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