Definition

A difference or variation from what is expected or usual, often used in statistics to describe how much values differ from the average.

Example

The variance in test scores showed that some students performed much better than others.

Conversation

Have you noticed the variance in temperatures this week?

Yeah, it's strange how it can be warm one day and freezing the next.

Exactly! I wonder if it's affecting people's moods.

It probably is; weather changes can really throw us off.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Variance → It is formed from "vari-" (from Latin "varius", meaning varied or different) and "-ance" (a suffix used to form nouns indicating a state or quality). The word "variance" refers to the state of being different or varied.

Memory Tip

Think of 'varied' ('vari-') to remember that 'variance' means the state of being different.

Visually Confused Words