variety

variety — noun

1. the condition of being made up of many different elements, people, or experience

1.nounB1
Definition

the condition of being made up of many different elements, people, or experiences so that things are not all the same or boring.

Example

Tuan introduced variety into his daughter's playtime by rotating art, music, and outdoor games.

variety is — uncountable abstract noun as subject

Soraya added more variety to her meals by cooking dishes from different countries.

adds variety to — verb + variety pattern

Common collocations
  • add variety to
  • lack of variety
  • provide variety
  • for variety
  • variety in life
Synonyms
  • diversity

    more formal; emphasizes the presence of many different types rather than the quality of being mixed

  • range

    focuses on the breadth or scope of differences, not the existence of difference itself

  • breadth

    emphasises how wide or extensive the variety is

Antonyms
  • uniformity

    complete lack of variety; everything is the same

  • monotony

    boring sameness that makes something feel dull

Grammar Patterns

variety (uncountable) without an article

adds/gives/brings variety to something

Usage Note

Uncountable — do not use with a, an, or plural forms when describing the abstract quality. Frequently appears in phrases like 'add variety to' and 'for variety'.

Common Mistakes

I like the varieties in my daily routine.
I like the variety in my daily routine.
abstract variety is uncountable and has no plural form.
A variety is the spice of life.
Variety is the spice of life.
the proverb uses variety without an article.

2. one particular kind or sort of something, with features that make it different f

2.nounB1
Definition

one particular kind or sort of something, with features that make it different from others in the same group.

Example

Ishaan planted a rare variety of sunflower that grows more than three metres tall.

a rare variety of + singular noun

This new variety of rice needs far less water than traditional types.

Common collocations
  • rare variety of
  • new variety of
  • different variety of
  • variety of plant
  • varieties of
Synonyms
  • type

    more general and common; variety suggests a subtype within a larger category

  • kind

    informal; used in everyday speech for any group sharing qualities

  • sort

    informal; similar to kind but slightly more vague

Grammar Patterns

a/the variety of + noun (a specific type)

variety of + singular noun

Usage Note

Used as a countable noun. Often appears in biology and agriculture contexts to describe distinct subtypes of plants or animals. Unlike sense 1, this sense takes an article (a/the/this/that) and has a plural form (varieties).

Common Mistakes

This is a different variation of coffee bean.
This is a different variety of coffee bean.
variation means a change or difference; variety means a specific type.
There are many variety of birds in the park.
There are many varieties of birds in the park.
when countable, the plural form varieties must be used.

3. a collection or set made up of many different kinds of people or things within t

3.nounA2
Definition

a collection or set made up of many different kinds of people or things within the same broad category.

Example

The market stall sells a variety of handmade gifts, including jewellery and wooden toys.

a variety of + plural noun — assortment pattern

Lucía refused the job for a variety of reasons, from the commute to the pay.

Common collocations
  • a wide variety of
  • a great variety of
  • a rich variety of
  • a surprising variety of
  • a huge variety of
Synonyms
  • assortment

    puts more focus on the mixed nature of the collection

  • selection

    suggests the items have been chosen with care from a larger group

  • range

    emphasises the breadth from one extreme to another

Grammar Patterns

a variety of + plural noun

a wide/great/rich variety of + plural noun

Usage Note

Always used in the singular with the article a — 'a variety of + plural noun.' The verb that follows can be singular or plural: 'a variety of opinions was shared' (treating a variety as one collection) or 'a variety of opinions were shared' (matching the plural noun). Both are accepted, but plural agreement is more common in everyday English.

Common Mistakes

I have variety of books at home.
I have a variety of books at home.
the article a is required before variety in this sense.
The shop has a variety of apple.
The shop has a variety of apples.
the noun after of must be plural.

4. a style of live or broadcast entertainment in which different short acts — such

4.nounB1
Definition

a style of live or broadcast entertainment in which different short acts — such as musical performances, comedy routines, and magic tricks — are presented one after another.

Example

Théo volunteered to perform a comedy sketch at the school variety show last spring.

variety show — fixed phrase for this entertainment format

Variety entertainment was very popular on British television during the 1960s and 1970s.

Common collocations
  • variety show
  • variety theatre
  • variety programme
  • variety performance
  • variety artist

Grammar Patterns

variety + noun (variety show / variety theatre / variety entertainment)

Usage Note

Used attributively — almost always followed by a noun like show, theatre, or programme. The standalone form 'a variety' is rarely used for this sense. This meaning is less common in modern contexts but still appears in historical references and certain television formats.

Common Mistakes

We went to see a variety at the theatre.
We went to see a variety show at the theatre.
variety alone does not refer to a performance; you need variety show.
She is a variety performer.
She is a variety show performer.' or 'She performs on variety shows.
variety performer is not a standard phrase.
Idioms

variety is the spice of life

idiom

Doing many different things makes life more enjoyable.

Maya tries new hobbies every month because variety is the spice of life.

Diego believes that traveling to new countries proves variety is the spice of life.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Variety (sense 1) refers to the quality of containing different elements — it describes a state of being mixed rather than the specific items themselves. Diversity is more formal and often carries positive weight, especially in social or environmental contexts ('cultural diversity,' 'biodiversity'). Assortment focuses on a physical collection of mixed items rather than the abstract quality of being different — you pick an assortment of chocolates from a box. Variation refers to a change or difference between things within a category, such as temperature variation across a day; it emphasises measurable differences rather than the presence of difference as a quality. Range highlights the span or distance between extremes — 'a wide range of prices' suggests a spread from low to high. In everyday English, variety is the broadest and most natural word for describing the quality of being not all the same. For example, 'The restaurant offers a variety of dishes' sounds neutral, while 'The restaurant offers a diversity of dishes' sounds more formal, and 'The restaurant offers an assortment of dishes' implies a specific selection laid out for choice.

diversity ↗assortment ↗variation ↗range ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a wide variety of
  • a great variety of
  • a rich variety of
  • adds variety to
  • lack of variety
  • for variety

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word comes from Latin 'varietas,' meaning 'difference, diversity,' which itself comes from 'varius' ('changing, various'). It entered English through Old French 'variete' around the 1400s, first carrying the sense of 'being varied or different.' The meaning of 'a specific type or kind' developed in the 1700s, and the sense of 'variety show' appeared in the early 1900s as a shortened form of 'variety entertainment.'