Dictionary entries for 'variance'

Synonyms

var·i·ance (vâŕē-əns, văŕ-)

noun

1. The act of varying.
2. The state or quality of being variant or variable; a variation.
3. A difference between what is expected and what actually occurs.
The state or fact of differing or of being in conflict. See synonyms at discord
Law
1. A discrepancy between two statements or documents in a proceeding.
2. License to engage in an act contrary to a usual rule: a zoning variance.
Statistics The square of the standard deviation.
Chemistry The number of thermodynamic variables, such as temperature and pressure, required to specify a state of equilibrium of a system, given by the phase rule.

at variance: In a state of discrepancy; differing: The facts are at variance with your story.