variant in WordNet English dictionary

1. a variable quantity that is random
   random variable  variate  variant  stochastic variable  chance variable 
   
2. an event that departs from expectations
   discrepancy  variance  variant 
   
3. something a little different from others of the same type
   "an experimental version of the night fighter"; "a variant of the same word"; "an emery wheel is the modern variation of a grindstone"; "the boy is a younger edition of his father"
   version  variant  variation  edition 
   
4. (biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups
   "a new strain of microorganisms"
   form  variant  strain  var. 
   

1. differing from a norm or standard
   "a variant spelling"
   variant 
   
2. exhibiting variation and change
   "letters variant in size"
   variant