deviance

UK: /ˈdiːviəns/ US: (dē′vē əns)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

de•vi•ance  (dē′vē əns), n. 

1. deviant quality or state.
2. deviant behavior.

Also, de′vi•an•cy. 

• devi(ant) + -ance 1940–45

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

deviance / ˈdiːvɪəns/ noun

1. Also called: deviancy the act or state of being deviant
2. a measure of the degree of fit of a statistical model compared to that of a more complete model

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

de•vi•ant /ˈdiviənt/   adj. 

1. relating to or marked by deviation:
   deviant behavior in public.

n. [countable]

2. a person or thing that deviates:
   a sexual deviant.

de•vi•ance, n. [uncountable] See -via-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

de•vi•ant  (dē′vē ənt), adj. 

1. deviating or departing from the norm;
   characterized by deviation:
   deviant social behavior.

n. 

2. a person or thing that deviates or departs markedly from the accepted norm.

• Late Latin dēviant- (stem of dēviāns, present participle of dēviāre to deviate), equivalent. to Latin dē- de- + vi(a) road, way + -ant- -ant
• Middle English 1350–1400