n. 1
The act of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing.
n. 2
A related but distinct thing.
When the process didn't work, we tried a variation.
n. 3
The angular difference at the vessel between the direction of true north and magnetic north.

Related words

Word family: variational vary variant
Phrases: magnetic variation

Forms

Plural: variations → changes, mutations, differences, deviations…

Choose the right word

Variation or Change?

Variation is a partial change in form, qualities, etc., but especially in position or action; as, the variation of the magnetic needle or of the pulse.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

difference It won't make any difference whichever you choose.
modification Through genetic modification, we can improve crops.
mutation This disease is caused by a rare genetic mutation.
deviation No deviation from the regulations will be tolerated.
variant Paul created a deadlier variant of the virus.
discrepancy I can't think of an explanation for the discrepancy.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
variation		falling
difference		steady
modification		falling
mutation		rising
deviation		steady
variant		rising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters: turn¹
5 letters: sport¹, shade¹
6 letters: change¹, mutant²
7 letters: version², edition³, variety⁴, variant³
8 letters: mutation³, variance³
9 letters: diversity⁴, departure³, deviation⁴
10 letters: difference³, alteration⁴
11 letters: discrepancy⁴, fluctuation⁴, vicissitude⁴
12 letters: modification⁵
15 letters: diversification⁶

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (mutant² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: variation
Italiano: variazione
Español: variación
Deutsch: Abwechslung