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Meaning & use

variety

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/vəˈraɪ.ə.ti/
US/vəˈraɪ.ə.t̬i/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    The quality of including many different types or elements instead of being all the same.

    Grammar: No article or plural here; names the quality itself, as in variety is the spice of life.

    Patterns

    • variety in something
    • add variety to something
    • lack variety

    The job offers plenty of variety, with different tasks every week.

    I try a new route to work each day because variety is the spice of life.

  2. nounusually singular

    A number or range of different types of the same thing.

    Grammar: Used in the fixed phrase a variety of, which is followed by a plural noun: a variety of reasons.

    Patterns

    • a variety of something
    • a wide variety of something

    People move to the city for a variety of reasons.

    The store sells a wide variety of cheeses and breads.

  3. nouncountable

    A particular type or kind of something, especially one within a larger group.

    Grammar: Takes 'a' and a plural varieties: a new variety of tomato, several varieties of rice.

    Patterns

    • a variety of something
    • different varieties
    • a new variety

    This variety of apple stays crisp for months.

    The menu lists several varieties of tea from different regions.

  4. nouncountablebiology

    A rank in biological classification below species, for a group with small, stable differences.

    Grammar: A technical sense; the plural varieties is common in biology writing.

    Patterns

    • a variety of a species

    Botanists classified the coastal plants as a distinct variety of the species.

    This rose variety resists common fungal diseases.

  5. noununcountable

    Entertainment made up of many short different acts, such as songs, comedy, and juggling.

    Grammar: Mainly in the compounds variety show and variety act; not used in the plural.

    Patterns

    • variety show
    • variety act
    • variety performer

    The old theater hosts a weekly variety show with musicians and comedians.

    She began her career as a dancer in variety before moving to film.

Word forms

pluralvarieties

Common combinations

a variety of reasons
People cancel flights for a variety of reasons.
a wide variety
The market offers a wide variety of fresh produce.
variety is the spice of life
We rotate the chores each week because variety is the spice of life.
a new variety of something
The lab developed a new variety of drought-resistant wheat.
variety show
The benefit included a variety show with local performers.

Synonyms and how they differ

diversity
Diversity stresses differences among people or things; variety also names one type within a group, which diversity does not.
assortment
An assortment is a mixed collection of items, usually physical ones; variety is broader and more abstract.
range
A range emphasizes the full spread between limits, from cheapest to dearest; variety emphasizes many different kinds.

Opposites

uniformitymonotony

Word family

vary verb
to change or be different; to make things different
varied adjective
consisting of many different types or experiences
various determiner
several different; of different kinds
variation noun
a change in amount or level, or a different form of something

Commonly confused: variety or various?

variety vs various

Variety is a noun used in a variety of plus plural noun; various is a determiner used directly with the noun: various reasons, not a variety reasons.

Practice

The store sells a wide ___ of teas from China, India, and Kenya.

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