Variance

English Meaning

The quality or state of being variant; change of condition; variation.

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.
4. The state or fact of differing or of being in conflict. See Synonyms at discord.
5. Law A discrepancy between two statements or documents in a proceeding.
6. Law License to engage in an act contrary to a usual rule: a zoning variance.
7. Statistics The square of the standard deviation.
8. 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.
9. at variance In a state of discrepancy; differing: The facts are at variance with your story.