Definition of "variant" in English

adjective

1. Showing variety, diverse.

2. Showing deviation or disagreement.

3. (obsolete) Variable.

4. (programming) Covariant and/or contravariant.

noun

1. Something that is slightly different from a type or norm.

   • All breeds of dog are variants of the species “Canis lupus familiaris”.

2. (genetics) A different sequence of a gene (locus).

3. (programming) A variable that can hold any of various unrelated data types.

4. (linguistics, lexicography) One of a set of words or other linguistic forms that conveys the same meaning or serves the same function.

   • The word "kerosine" is a variant of “kerosene”.