deviation
noun
de·vi·a·tion
ˌdē-vē-ˈā-shən 
: an act or instance of deviating: such as
a
navigation
: deflection of the needle of a compass caused by local magnetic influences (as in a ship)
b
mathematics
: the difference between a value in a frequency distribution and a fixed number (such as the mean)
c
: departure from an established ideology or party line
deviation from Communist orthodoxy
d
: noticeable or marked departure from accepted norms (see norm sense 2) of behavior
Synonyms
Examples of deviation in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Five-Year Trend: February 4 has trended warmer in recent years, with the most extreme deviation occurring in 2020 when the temperature reached 57°F, 18.9°F above the historical norm.
—
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 3 Feb. 2025
With this deviation from tradition, Koenigsegg can mechanically control torque vectoring to each of the rear wheels, as each cassette has hydraulic clutches and gears before reaching the output flange to the wheel.
—New Atlas, 31 Jan. 2025
The rezoning was a deviation from the city’s Comprehensive Plan, requiring a plan amendment, which was also unanimously granted.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for deviation 
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Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 3 Feb. 2025
With this deviation from tradition, Koenigsegg can mechanically control torque vectoring to each of the rear wheels, as each cassette has hydraulic clutches and gears before reaching the output flange to the wheel.
—New Atlas, 31 Jan. 2025
The rezoning was a deviation from the city’s Comprehensive Plan, requiring a plan amendment, which was also unanimously granted.
—Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for deviation
Dictionary Entries Near deviation
Cite this Entry
“Deviation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deviation. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deviation
noun
de·vi·a·tion
ˌdē-vē-ˈā-shən
: an act or instance of deviating: as
a
: the difference found by subtracting some fixed number (as the arithmetic mean of a series of statistical data) from any item of the series
b
: noticeable difference from accepted standards (as of behavior or morals)
Medical Definition
deviation
noun
de·vi·a·tion
ˌdē-vē-ˈā-shən
: an act or instance of diverging from an established way or in a new direction: as
a
: evolutionary differentiation involving interpolation of new stages in the ancestral pattern of morphogenesis
b
: noticeable or marked departure from accepted norms of behavior
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