variance

noun9

1. •
   The act of varying or the state of being variable.
2. •
   The state of differing or being in conflict.

   • But here, again, is the old variance between nature and fortune: each seems to delight in marring the work of the other. — 1837
3. •
   A discrepancy between two legal documents.
4. •
   The second central moment in probability; the square of the standard deviation.
5. •
   A difference between what is expected and what is observed; deviation.

   • This remains an important tool and relies on simple subtraction to evaluate the difference ( variance ) between a planned result and an actual measurement. — 2004
6. •
   An official permit to do something that is ordinarily forbidden by regulations.
7. •
   Covariance and contravariance generally.

   • Depending on the variance of the type constructor, the subtyping relation of the simple types may be either preserved, reversed, or ignored for the respective complex types.
8. •
   A departure from a cause of action originally in a complaint.
9. •
   The number of degrees of freedom in a system.