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noun

deviation

a variation that deviates from the standard or norm

In a sentence

Six example sentences with deviation, each labelled with its topic.

  • Any deviation from the lab's fixed developing time by even thirty seconds showed up as grain in the shadows.

    Photography

  • The bakery weighs every loaf, and a deviation of more than ten grams sends the batch back to the mixer.

    Cooking

  • Housing starts ran within the usual band all spring, then showed a sharp deviation in July that no forecaster expected.

    Economics

  • The conductor allowed no deviation from the printed tempo, and a soloist who lingered on a phrase heard about it at once.

    Music

  • Any deviation from the sentencing guidelines must be explained in writing, and appeals courts read those explanations closely.

    Law

  • The point guard's one deviation from the set play, a quick drive instead of the pass, won the game at the buzzer.

    Basketball

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Found in these word lists

Found in 2 published word listsAuthoritative

Each source is a published word list that contains deviation. No exam board publishes an official GRE, GMAT or SAT list; GMAT words come from GRE lists and the Academic Word List.

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