variety

[ vuh-rahy-i-tee ]

noun

, plural va·ri·e·ties.

1. the state of being varied or diversified:

   to give variety to a diet.

   Synonyms: multiplicity, diversity

   Antonyms: sameness

2. a number of different types of things, especially ones in the same general category:

   A variety of tropical plants dominate the hotel porch.

   The variety of baked goods is impressive.

   Synonyms: group, collection, assortment

3. a kind or sort:

   This variety of yogurt is especially dense because it has very little whey.

4. a particular form, condition, or phase of something:

   Artistic pursuits of every variety are represented here.

   Synonyms: species, class, sort, kind

5. a category within a species, based on some hereditary difference.
6. a type of animal or plant produced by artificial selection.
7. Philately. a stamp differing from others of the same issue through an accident other than an error of an artist or printer. Compare error ( def 8 ), freak ¹( def 5 ).
8. Older Use. difference; discrepancy.
9. Also called variety show. entertainment of mixed character, consisting of a number of individual performances or acts, as of singing, dancing, or skits. Compare vaudeville ( def 1 ).

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a variety: variety performers.

   a variety store;

   variety performers.

variety

/ vəˈraɪɪtɪ /

noun

1. the quality or condition of being diversified or various
2. a collection of unlike things, esp of the same general group; assortment
3. a different form or kind within a general category; sort

   varieties of behaviour

4. 1. taxonomy a race whose distinct characters are insufficient to justify classification as a separate species; a subspecies
   2. horticulture stockbreeding a strain of animal or plant produced by artificial breeding
5. 1. entertainment consisting of a series of short unrelated performances or acts, such as comedy turns, songs, dances, sketches, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      a variety show

Usage Note

As a collective noun, variety, when preceded by a, is often treated as a plural: A variety of inexpensive goods are sold here. When preceded by the, it is usually treated as a singular: The variety of products is small. collective noun.

Other Words From

• nonva·rie·ty noun plural nonvarieties
• over·va·rie·ty noun
• subva·rie·ty noun plural subvarieties

Word History and Origins

Origin of variety¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin varietās, equivalent to vari(us) various ( def ) + -etās, variant of -itās -ity ( def ) after a vowel

Word History and Origins

Origin of variety¹

C16: from Latin varietās, from various

Example Sentences

A long-standing question therefore has been whether the immune system can generate antibodies -- proteins that recognise and neutralise specific pathogens -- that can target the wide variety of PfEMP1 types in circulation.

From Science Daily

Moving forward, the team expects to keep exploring other chemical clean energy alternatives to help inspire the creation of a variety of sustainable carbon capture routes.

From Science Daily

Acevedo will have to wait until February to grow his next saplings — all of them Hass, the major variety grown in California.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2010, Jianxin Ma, a professor of agronomy, and his collaborators built the first reference genome for soybeans on the widely studied Williams 82 variety.

From Science Daily

This, he said using a variety of R-rated language, was a team simply accepting the gift handed to them.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assortment
• brand
• breed
• category
• character
• description
• kind
• nature
• quality
• strain