deviation
noun
de·vi·a·tion
ˌdē-vē-ˈā-shən 
: an act or instance of deviating: such as
a
navigation
: deflection of the needle of a compass caused by local magnetic influences (as in a ship)
b
mathematics
: the difference between a value in a frequency distribution and a fixed number (such as the mean)
c
: departure from an established ideology or party line
deviation from Communist orthodoxy
d
: noticeable or marked departure from accepted norms (see norm sense 2) of behavior
Examples of deviation in a Sentence
There have been slight deviations in the satellite's orbit.
Having juice instead of coffee was a deviation from his usual routine.
The pattern's deviation from the norm is significant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Even among those results, many were minor deviations from expectation.
—
Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
This allows quality deviations to be found more quickly, which is intended to lead to less recalls down the line when products are already in customer hands, among other things.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Avoiding vehicles or people on runways Go-arounds, McCormick noted, are often used to prevent runway incursions, which can be caused by factors including operational issues, pilot deviations and vehicle or pedestrian deviations, according to the FAA.
—Amanda Musa, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
When considering United’s approach across different phases of play, there are obvious deviations in the shape of the team — which Amorim has been quick to explain.
—Mark Carey, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deviation
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Giovanni Malloy, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
This allows quality deviations to be found more quickly, which is intended to lead to less recalls down the line when products are already in customer hands, among other things.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Avoiding vehicles or people on runways Go-arounds, McCormick noted, are often used to prevent runway incursions, which can be caused by factors including operational issues, pilot deviations and vehicle or pedestrian deviations, according to the FAA.
—Amanda Musa, CNN, 27 Feb. 2025
When considering United’s approach across different phases of play, there are obvious deviations in the shape of the team — which Amorim has been quick to explain.
—Mark Carey, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deviation
Cite this Entry
“Deviation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deviation. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deviation
noun
de·vi·a·tion
ˌdē-vē-ˈā-shən
: an act or instance of deviating: as
a
: the difference found by subtracting some fixed number (as the arithmetic mean of a series of statistical data) from any item of the series
b
: noticeable difference from accepted standards (as of behavior or morals)
Medical Definition
deviation
noun
de·vi·a·tion
ˌdē-vē-ˈā-shən
: an act or instance of diverging from an established way or in a new direction: as
a
: evolutionary differentiation involving interpolation of new stages in the ancestral pattern of morphogenesis
b
: noticeable or marked departure from accepted norms of behavior
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