deviation

Deviation is defined as the act of departing from the accepted practice or the norm.

(noun)

When you always go to the store on Monday and one week you go to the store on Tuesday, this is an example of a deviation.

See deviation in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

the act or an instance of deviating; specif.,

sharp divergence from normal behavior
divergence from the official ideology or policies of a political party, esp. a Communist party
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
Statistics the amount by which a number differs from an average or other comparable value

Origin: ME deviacion < LL deviatio

See deviation in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The act of deviating or turning aside.
An abnormality; a departure: “Vice was a deviation from our nature” (Henry Fielding).
Deviant behavior or attitudes.
Divergence from an accepted political policy or party line.
Deflection of a compass needle caused by local magnetic influence, especially on a ship.
Statistics The difference, especially the absolute difference, between one number in a set and the mean of the set.

Related Forms: