1. the action of departing from an established course or accepted standard
2. the amount by which a single measurement differs from a fixed value such as the mean
Usage: statistics; mathematics

Examples

• Any deviation from the flight plan must be reported immediately.
• The teacher noticed a deviation in the student’s usual behavior.
• The company’s deviation from standard procedures caused problems.
• Scientists measured the deviation of the results from the expected values.
• Even a small deviation from the recipe can affect the final dish.
• The deviation in temperature was recorded by the instruments.