DEVIATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does deviation mean? 

• DEVIATION (noun)
  The noun DEVIATION has 5 senses:

1. a variation that deviates from the standard or norm

2. the difference between an observed value and the expected value of a variable or function

3. the error of a compass due to local magnetic disturbances

4. deviate behavior

5. a turning aside (of your course or attention or concern)

  Familiarity information: DEVIATION used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEVIATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A variation that deviates from the standard or norm

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

departure; deviation; difference; divergence

Context example:

the deviation from the mean

Hypernyms ("deviation" is a kind of...):

fluctuation; variation (an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "deviation"):

discrepancy; variance; variant (an event that departs from expectations)

driftage (the deviation (by a vessel or aircraft) from its intended course due to drifting)

flection; flexion; inflection (deviation from a straight or normal course)

Derivation:

deviate (be at variance with; be out of line with)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The difference between an observed value and the expected value of a variable or function

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("deviation" is a kind of...):

statistic (a datum that can be represented numerically)

Domain category:

statistics (a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "deviation"):

outlier (an extreme deviation from the mean)

mean deviation; mean deviation from the mean (the arithmetic mean of the absolute values of deviations from the mean of a distribution)

Derivation:

deviate (be at variance with; be out of line with)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The error of a compass due to local magnetic disturbances

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("deviation" is a kind of...):

erroneousness; error (inadvertent incorrectness)

Derivation:

deviate (be at variance with; be out of line with)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Deviate behavior

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

deviance; deviation

Hypernyms ("deviation" is a kind of...):

abnormality; irregularity (behavior that breaches the rule or etiquette or custom or morality)

Derivation:

deviate (be at variance with; be out of line with)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A turning aside (of your course or attention or concern)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

deflection; deflexion; deviation; digression; divagation; diversion

Context example:

a deflection from his goal

Hypernyms ("deviation" is a kind of...):

turn; turning (the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "deviation"):

red herring (any diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue)

Derivation:

deviate (turn aside; turn away from)

deviate (cause to turn away from a previous or expected course)

 Context examples 

As an immediate result; having nothing intervening; without deviation or interruption.

(Direct, NCI Thesaurus)

In this normalization process, each value subtracts the column mean and is divided by the column standard deviation.

(Discretize, NCI Thesaurus)

A type of program designed to assist individuals and families to address diverse issues such as alcohol and drug abuse, child disobedience, behavioral deviations, misdemeanor and felony.

(Diversion Program, NCI Thesaurus)

Medical device failure or malfunction associated with device functions, including any deviations from documented specifications, requirements, and intended uses.

(Device Problem, NCI Thesaurus)

A coded value specifying a classification of a deviation.

(Deviation Category Code, NCI Thesaurus)

The association to MismatchInformation allows the specification, usually for control purposes, of deviations from the CompositeSequence's BioMaterial.

(Composite Position, NCI Thesaurus)

Any deviation from normal in the coronary vasculature.

(Coronary Anomaly, NCI Thesaurus)

Issue associated with having flaws or dimensional deviations greater than acceptable for the intended use of the device.

(Defective Item Medical Device Problem, Food and Drug Administration)

A class of disorders that encompasses conditions occurring as a result of metabolic dysfunction or deviation from the normal nutritional requirements.

(Metabolism and Nutrition Disorder Class, NCI Thesaurus)

Do not blame him, however, for departing from his character, where the deviation is necessary.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)