Definition of "variance"

variance

/ˈvɛː.ɹi.əns/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural variances
1. The act of varying or the state of being variable.
2. A difference between what is expected and what is observed; deviation.
  Quotations
  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
3. The state of differing or being in conflict.
  Quotations
  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, […], page 246
4. An official permit to do something that is ordinarily forbidden by regulations.
5. (law) A discrepancy between two legal documents.
6. (law) A departure from a cause of action originally in a complaint.
7. (statistics) The second central moment in probability.
8. (physics, chemistry, biology) The number of degrees of freedom in a system.
9. (computing, programming) Covariance and contravariance generally.

Definition of "variance"

variance

noun

Quotations

Quotations