noun

variance

Translation

variance, discrepancy, disagreement, dispensation

There was a variance between the two reports.

The sample variance is a measure of spread.

He requested a variance to build a garage.

a variance ((between A and B)) a difference between A and B There is a variance between the two sets of data.

a variance ((from sth.)) a deviation from something This is a variance from our usual procedure.

Synonyms: difference, discrepancy, divergence; Antonyms: agreement, harmony, similarity

From Old French 'variance' (change, alteration), from Latin 'variantia'. Related to 'vary'.

Think of a 'variance' as a difference or variation from a standard or expectation. In statistics, it measures how far numbers vary from the average.