variety

Noun

variety (countable and uncountable, plural varieties)

1. A deviation or difference.
   • The difference, therefore, in theſe animals, ariſes rather from their habits than their confirmation; and, upon examination, there will be leſs variety found betvween them than between birds that live upon land, and thoſe that ſwim upon the water.1791, Oliver Goldsmith, “Of the Tortoise, and Its Kinds”, in An History of the Earth, and Animated Nature. […], new edition, volume VI, London: […] F[rancis] Wingrave, successor to Mr. [John] Nourse...
2. A specific variation of something.
   • The ſpirit of that competition burns / With all varieties of ill by turns, / Each vainly magnifies his own ſucceſs, / Reſents his fellows, wiſhes it were leſs, […]1785, William Cowper, “Tirocinium: Or, A Review of Schools”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], →OCLC, page 318
   • Yet the task of composing dramatic varieties, of training players, and deliberating in the theatrical senate, or even of expressing philosophically his opinions on these points, could not wholly occupy such a mind as his.1825, Thomas Carlyle, “Part II. From His Settlement at Manheim to His Settlement at Jena (1783–1790).”, in The Life of Friedrich Schiller. […], London: […] [C. Richards] for Taylor and Hessey, […]...
   1. (broadly) An animal or plant (or a group of such animals or plants) with characteristics causing it to differ from other animals or plants of the same species; a strain or cultivar.
      • Many more ſorts of varieties of theſe kindes [of Aconitum anthora] there are, but theſe onely, as the moſt ſpecious, are nourſed vp in Floriſts Gardens for pleaſure; the other are kept by ſuch as are Catholicke obſeruers of all natures ſtore.1629, John Parkinson, “Aconitum. Wolfebane.”, in Paradisi in Sole Paradisus Terrestris. […], London: […] Hvmfrey Lownes and Robert Yovng […], →OCLC, page 215
      • But of all theſe varieties of Roſes, the beſt and moſt eſtemed amongſt the Red, are thoſe called the Roſe of the VVorld, the Red Belgick, the Red Marble, the Roſe vvithout Thorns, and the Red Provence Roſe.1708, J[ohn] Mortimer, “Rose-Tree”, in The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and...
   2. (broadly) A rank in a taxonomic classification below species and (if present) subspecies, and above form; hence, an organism of that rank.
      • Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum is a variety of Capsicum annuum commonly known as chiltepin or Indian pepper.
   3. A specific form of a language, neutral to whether that form is an accent, dialect, register, etc., and to its prestige level.
      • Near-synonym: dialect (sometimes synonymous)
      • The mere existence of a dictionary of a certain variety of English does not automatically confer acceptance of that variety.2014 March, James Lambert, “Diachronic Stability in Indian English Lexis”, in World Englishes, volume 33, number 1, Oxford, Oxfordshire; New York, N.Y.: Pergamon Press for the International...
   4. A stamp, or set of stamps, which has one or more characteristics (such as colour, paper, etc.) differing from other stamps in the same issue, especially if such differences are intentionally introduced.
3. A collection or number of different things.
   • But nether in this maner, nor any other particular procedyng, can we ſufficiently direct yow: but, notyng unto yow the generalitees of our deſyre, referr yow to apply your doings to the varieté and occurrency of thyngs there.1563 February 4 (Gregorian calendar), “A Memoriall for Sir Thomas Smyth Knight, Sent by the Quene’s Majestie the … of January 1562”, in [Patrick] Forbes, editor, A Full View of the Public...
   • And in this may receiue ſome immediate benefit, if by contemplation, hee behold the varietie of temporary bleſſings, no part in the Vniuerſe exceeding theſe, not vvith-held from Pagan people afforded by Gods al-knovving and guiding Prouidence, vvhich notvvithſtanding being mixt vvith...1634, T[homas] H[erbert], “Of Mallabar”, in A Relation of Some Yeares Trauaile, Begunne Anno 1626. into Afrique and the Greater Asia, […], London: […] William Stansby, and Jacob Bloome, →OCLC, page...

   Synonyms:

   array, assortment, spread

   Antonyms:

   uniformity

   1. In universal algebra: an equational class; the class of all algebraic structures of a given signature, satisfying a given set of identities.
   2. (cybernetics) The total number of distinct states of a system; also, the logarithm to the base 2 of the total number of distinct states of a system.
4. The quality of being varied; diversity.
   • Variety is the spice of life.
   • Nor is our body made of one parte onely, but of manye and diuerſe. […] The diuers placyng and vſe is not to the member reprochful, but this varietie rather apertayneth to the welth of the whole body.1549 August 26 (Gregorian calendar), Erasmus, “The Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the First Epistle of the Apostle S. Paule to the Corinthians. The .xii. Chapter.”, in Myles Coverdall [i.e., Myles...

   Synonyms:

   disuniformity, diversity, heterogeneity, irregularity, multiformity, nonconformity, nonhomogeneity, nonregularity, nonuniformity, unconformity

   Antonyms:

   sameness, conformity, homogeneousness, homogeneity, regularity, uniformity, uniformness

5. The kind of entertainment given in variety performances or shows; also, the production of, or performance in, variety performances or shows.