Variance Meaning
/ˈvɛə.ɹi.əns/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe act of varying or the state of being variable.
nounA difference between what is expected and what is observed; deviation.
Sentence Examples
A random variable is definitely a constant if the variance is zero.
I need to calculate the mean and the variance.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
There was a large ____ between the two test results, causing confusion.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The researchers noted a significant ____ in the results between the two different groups they were studying today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English variance, variaunce, equivalent to vary + -ance, from Old French variance or directly from Anglo-Latin variaunce, veriaunce, wariaunce; all from Latin variantia.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Certain other factors were considered to explain the variance from expected figures. All seven aviators smoked. Each considered himself to be in good physical condition, though none found the time to exercise regularly. No aviator was obese."
— 1973, United States Army Aviation Digest - Volume 19, page 18:
"This remains an important tool and relies on simple subtraction to evaluate the difference ( variance ) between a planned result and an actual measurement."
— 2004, F. L. Harrison, Dennis Lock, Advanced Project Management: A Structured Approach, page 212:
"Whenever a patient is recorded as having a variance (V), it is important to return soon afterwards to see if the care intervention has helped."
— 2012, Penny Howard, Becky Whittaker (nee Chady), Karen Holland, Placement Learning in Cancer & Palliative Care Nursing, page 160:
"The study not only showed IQ variance between children the same parents, but because the authors had the IQ scores of various parents, it demonstrated that parents with higher IQs tended to have more kids, ruling out the dysgenic fertility theory as a driver of falling IQ scores and highlighting the role of environmental factors instead."
— 2018 June 13, Rory Smith, “IQ scores are falling and have been for decades, new study finds”, in CNN, archived from the original on 25 Aug 2023:
"But here, again, is the old variance between nature and fortune: each seems to delight in marring the work of the other."
— 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Chapter XXVII. Lady Marchmont to Sir Jasper Meredith.”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 246:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
There was a large ____ between the two test results, causing confusion.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The researchers noted a significant ____ in the results between the two different groups they were studying today.