variety

A group or range of things that are different from each other.

• We offer a variety of meals.
• She tried a wide variety of sports.
• The library has a variety of books for beginners.

How to use it: a variety of things (The shop sells a variety of breads.)

Similar words: range, selection, assortment

Common phrases: a variety of, a wide variety, a large variety

The presence of different things or experiences, rather than everything being the same.

• I like variety in my work.
• Fresh herbs add variety to simple meals.
• The programme offers enough variety to keep everyone interested.

How to use it: variety in something (We need more variety in our meals.)

Similar words: diversity

Opposites: sameness, uniformity

Common phrases: add variety, more variety, variety in something

A particular type of something, especially a plant or animal.

• This apple variety is sweet.
• We grow three varieties of tomato.
• Which variety grows best in cold weather?

How to use it: a variety of something (This variety of apple tastes sweet.)

Similar words: type, kind

Common phrases: a grape variety, a tomato variety, a new variety

A particular form of a language used by a group or in a certain situation.

• We studied a local variety of English.
• Different language varieties have different social uses.
• This variety is spoken mainly by older people.

How to use it: a variety of a language (They speak a regional variety of English.)

Similar words: language form

Common phrases: a regional variety, a language variety, a standard variety

A group within a species, especially of plants, with its own small differences.

• The botanist identified a new variety.
• This variety belongs to the same species.
• The variety differs from the usual form in leaf colour.

Similar words: var.

Common phrases: botanical variety, a plant variety