- the amount by which something changes or is different from something else
- variance in temperature
- a note with subtle variances of pitch
Word OriginMiddle English: via Old French from Latin variantia ‘difference’, from the verb variare, from varius ‘diverse’.Definitions on the go
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Idioms
See variance in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee variance in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishat variance (with somebody/something)
- (formal) disagreeing with or opposing somebody/something
- These conclusions are totally at variance with the evidence.
- He uttered a string of oaths, so oddly at variance with his usual smooth and civilized manner.
Check pronunciation:
variance