variety
High Frequency (C1 on CEFR scale, very common in spoken and written English)Formal, Informal, Neutral. Core meaning is neutral; 'variety show' is informal/entertainment.
Definition
Meaning
The quality or state of being different or diverse.
A particular type, sort, or category within a broader range; a collection of different things; a form of entertainment featuring short, separate acts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primary sense is abstract noun for 'diversity'. Secondary countable sense ('a variety of X') is extremely common, often followed by plural noun without 'of' being ungrammatical (e.g., 'varieties apple'). Can imply novelty or relief from monotony.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Variety show' as TV/radio entertainment is common in both. In horticulture/botany, 'variety' (var.) is a taxonomic rank; usage identical.
Connotations
Equally positive in both dialects, suggesting choice, interest, and abundance.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects. The phrase 'a variety of' is a staple in academic and business writing universally.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
a variety of + plural nounthe variety of + singular/plural nounvariety in + nounvariety among + plural nounVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Variety is the spice of life.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to product ranges, investment portfolios, or skill sets (e.g., 'We need a variety of revenue streams').
Academic
Used in biology (genetic variety), linguistics (language variety), sociology (cultural variety), and generally to introduce examples (e.g., 'A variety of theories have been proposed').
Everyday
Common in shopping, food, entertainment, and describing experiences (e.g., 'The cafe offers a good variety of cakes').
Technical
In botany/agriculture: a cultivated subspecies (e.g., 'a new variety of wheat'). In linguistics: a dialect or register.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - 'variety' is not a verb. The related verb is 'vary'.
American English
- N/A - 'variety' is not a verb. The related verb is 'vary'.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'variety' is not an adverb. The related adverb is 'variously'.
American English
- N/A - 'variety' is not an adverb. The related adverb is 'variously'.
adjective
British English
- N/A - 'variety' is not an adjective. The related adjective is 'various'.
American English
- N/A - 'variety' is not an adjective. The related adjective is 'various'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The shop sells a variety of toys.
- I like variety in my food.
- We need to add more variety to our weekly menu.
- The garden has a wide variety of flowers.
- The study examined a variety of factors influencing climate change.
- Genetic variety is crucial for a species' survival.
- The sheer variety of dialects within the region complicates linguistic mapping.
- His argument was supported by a bewildering variety of sources, from classical philosophy to contemporary sociology.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a V-A-RIETY of fruits in a bowl: Very Assorted Range, Including Every Type You'd like.
Conceptual Metaphor
VARIETY IS A SPICE (from the idiom). VARIETY IS A SPECTRUM/A RAINBOW (visual metaphor for diversity).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of 'разнообразие' into 'variousness' – 'variety' is correct.
- The phrase 'a variety of' + plural noun is often mistranslated as 'varieties of' which changes meaning (e.g., 'a variety of apples' vs 'varieties of apples').
- Do not confuse with 'version' ('версия') or 'sort' ('сорт' for types of goods).
Common Mistakes
- Using as a countable noun incorrectly: 'There are many variety' (correct: 'varieties').
- Using singular verb after 'a variety of': 'A variety of options is available' (formally correct but often 'are' in modern usage).
- Misspelling as 'varity' or 'variaty'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'variety' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, a singular verb ('A variety of options is...') as the subject is 'variety'. However, in modern usage, especially when emphasizing the individual items, a plural verb ('A variety of options are...') is very common and widely accepted.
They are often synonyms. 'Variety' often focuses on the number of different types available ('a variety of books'). 'Diversity' often implies a deeper, valued difference in composition, especially in social or biological contexts ('cultural diversity', 'biodiversity'), and can carry a stronger qualitative judgement.
No. The noun is 'variety'. The adjective form is 'various' (e.g., 'various reasons'). The phrase 'variety show' uses the noun as a modifier, which is grammatically different from being an adjective.
In botany and horticulture, a 'variety' (abbreviated 'var.') is a taxonomic rank below subspecies. It refers to a naturally occurring population of plants that differs consistently from the typical form of the species (e.g., *Mentha spicata* var. *crispata*).
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