Variant: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the Latin 'varians', meaning 'to change' or 'to make different'.
• It entered the English language in the 15th century, reflecting changes in usage and meaning over time.
• Originally used in the context of language and literature, describing different forms of a text or a word.

Science

• In biology, variants can refer to different forms of a species, often caused by genetic mutations.
• In virology, a variant of a virus may have mutations that affect how it spreads or how effective vaccines are against it.
• The study of variants helps scientists track disease outbreaks and understand evolutionary processes.

Literature

• In literature, a variant might be an alternate version of a story or a different reading of a text.
• Variations in folklore can show how stories evolve as they are passed down through generations.
• Publishing houses often release variant covers of popular books to appeal to different audiences.

Pop Culture

• In video games, a variant often refers to alternate skins or versions of characters that players can choose.
• Movies can have variant cuts, meaning different edits that include additional scenes or tweaks to the story.
• Collectible cards sometimes release variants to enhance player experience and create excitement among fans.

Psychology

• In psychology, people might have variant behaviors under different circumstances; this helps in understanding personality diversity.
• Cognitive flexibility can be seen as a person’s ability to adapt their thoughts, resulting in behavioral variants.
• Studies often look for variants in mental health responses, showing how individuals cope with similar stressors in diverse ways.

Position #7,678 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.

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