deviation
departure from what is usual or expected
A change from what is normal, usual, or planned, especially in how someone acts or in how something is done.
a deviation from [a plan/standard/rule/normal]
- Any deviation from the safety procedure must be reported immediately.
- The new policy marks a clear deviation from the company’s traditional approach.
- There was a slight deviation from the script, but the audience didn’t notice.
- Teachers are not allowed much deviation from the official curriculum.
- His behavior at the meeting was a surprising deviation from his usual calm manner.
- There can be no deviation from the rules in this test.
- The coach will not allow any deviation from the plan.
- Her sudden anger was a big deviation from her normal friendly style.
- This year we saw a deviation from our normal working hours.
- A small deviation from the plan caused a lot of problems.
difference from a reference value
How far a number or measurement is from a target, rule, or average value.
the deviation of [a value] from [a standard/target]
- The deviation of the measured temperature from the expected value was less than one degree.
- Engineers allowed a deviation of up to two millimeters in the final dimensions.
- The graph shows a sharp deviation from the historical trend after 2010.
- We observed only a minor deviation between the predicted and actual results.
- Standard deviation is used to describe how much the data deviate from the mean.
- There is a small deviation between the test value and the target value.
- Scientists checked the deviation of each result from the average number.
- The machine can work with a deviation of plus or minus one percent.
- We saw a big deviation in the data for that one day.
- The company does not accept any deviation from the required size.
path or course going off line
How far a road, line, or movement goes away from the planned way or a straight line.
a deviation in/from [a course/path/route]
- The pilot corrected a slight deviation to the left before landing.
- The GPS alarm sounded when the truck showed a lane deviation.
- Our train made a brief deviation from the usual route due to track repairs.
- Engineers measured the deviation of the bridge from its original alignment.
- The missile’s deviation from its planned course was less than one degree.
- The car made a small deviation from its lane.
- There was a short deviation from the normal bus route.
- The ship’s deviation to the east was caused by strong wind.
- The driver fixed the deviation and went back to the center of the road.
- The map shows a deviation of the road around the lake.
behavior seen as morally or sexually abnormal
Behavior, often sexual, that people in a society see as very different from what they think is normal or acceptable.
a deviation in [someone’s behavior/sexual behavior]
- The report argued that what is called sexual deviation is often simply non‑traditional behavior.
- Older medical texts sometimes described homosexuality as a deviation or disorder.
- The film explores the line between harmless fantasy and dangerous deviation.
- Modern psychologists are careful about labeling behavior as deviation without considering cultural context.
- In that strict community, even small deviations in dress were seen as moral deviation.
- Some people still call many kinds of sexual behavior a deviation.
- The book talks about how ideas of deviation change over time.
- Psychologists today do not quickly call something a deviation.
- He was punished for what the group saw as moral deviation.
- What one culture calls deviation, another culture may see as normal.
- Base: deviation
- Plural: deviation, deviations
deviation from the norm
1being different from what is typical
A way of saying that something is different from what is usual or expected in a group, place, or time.
- In this quiet town, staying out late is a real deviation from the norm.
- Her decision to work abroad was a clear deviation from the norm in her family.
no deviation from
1insisting on exact compliance
Used to say that someone must follow rules, a plan, or a standard exactly, without any change.
- There can be no deviation from the schedule during the exam.
- Management has ordered no deviation from the safety guidelines.
standard deviation
1statistical measure of data spread
In statistics, a number that shows how spread out the values are from the average value in a group of numbers.
- We calculated the standard deviation to understand how much the scores varied.
- A low standard deviation means that most data points are close to the average.