de·vi·a·tion
ˌdē-vē-ˈā-shən
: an act or instance of deviating: such as
a
navigation
: deflection of the needle of a compass caused by local magnetic influences (as in a ship)
b
mathematics
: the difference between a value in a frequency distribution and a fixed number (such as the mean)
c
: departure from an established ideology or party line
deviation from Communist orthodoxy
d
: noticeable or marked departure from accepted norms (see norm sense 2) of behavior
de·vi·a·tion·ist
-sh(ə)nə̇st
plural -s
: one who departs from the principles of an organization (such as a political party) with which he or she is affiliated
deviationists in Communist countries
: of or relating to deviationism or deviationists
Cite this Entry
“Deviation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deviation. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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