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deviation definition

de·viation (dē′vē ā′s̸hən)

noun

the act or an instance of deviating; specif.,
  1. sharp divergence from normal behavior
  2. divergence from the official ideology or policies of a political party, esp. a Communist party
  3. the deflection of a magnetic compass needle due to magnetic influences; specif., on a ship, such deflection caused by the ship's own magnetic properties
  4. Statistics the amount by which a number differs from an average or other comparable value

Etymology: ME deviacion < LL deviatio

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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