variáns

Variáns is a broad term used to denote a version, form, or type that differs from a reference point. In biology, a genetic variant is any difference in the DNA sequence among individuals, populations, or species. Variants include single nucleotide variants (SNVs), insertions, deletions, copy number variants, and larger structural variants. Most variants are neutral; some affect traits, disease risk, or drug response. In virology, virus variants arise by mutation and selection. They may show altered transmissibility, immune escape, or virulence. Health organizations categorize variants into groups such as variants under monitoring or variants of concern.

In linguistics, language variants are regional or social forms of words, pronunciations, or grammar. They reveal dialectal diversity and language change over time. In technology and commerce, variant denotes a version of a product or software that differs in features, specifications, or appearance, often adapted to markets or user needs.

When used in statistics or data analysis, variant is not equal to variance; the latter is a measure of dispersion in a data set, while variant refers to a form of something with a specific difference. The term is thus context-dependent, and its precise meaning depends on the field of study or industry.