variety

Variety refers to the quality or condition of being different or diverse within a set of items, people, or ideas. It denotes multiplicity, range, or assorted differences rather than uniformity. The word derives from the Latin varietas, meaning difference or diversity.

In biology, variety describes a taxonomic rank below species in some classifications; it typically refers to naturally occurring variations within a species, designated as var. or by a variety name. In botany, varieties may differ in minor traits such as leaf shape or flower color. In horticulture the term cultivar is often used for human-selected or bred varieties; modern taxonomy frequently uses subspecies or cultivar status to reflect intentional selection rather than natural variation.

In mathematics, a variety is an algebraic object defined as the solution set to polynomial equations; in algebraic geometry, affine varieties live in affine space and projective varieties in projective space. Varieties have dimensions and can be classified by properties such as smoothness and singularities. Key topics include morphisms, functions, and the study of curves, surfaces, and higher-dimensional spaces.

In everyday use, variety describes the assortment of options, such as a product range, flavors, or colors. The term also appears in linguistics and cultural studies as language or social variety, referring to regional, social, or stylistic differences in language and culture.