Variety Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary

The Britannica Dictionary mobile search

• Home
• Ask the Editor
• Word of the Day
• Quizzes
• Core Vocabulary
• Browse the Dictionary

×

• Britannica Homepage
• Ask the Editor
• Word of the Day
• Quizzes
• Core Vocabulary
• Browse the Dictionary

The Britannica Dictionary variety 3 ENTRIES FOUND:

• variety (noun)
• variety store (noun)
• garden–variety (adjective)

variety /vəˈrajəti/ noun plural varieties variety /vəˈrajəti/ noun plural varieties Britannica Dictionary definition of VARIETY 1 [singular] : a number or collection of different things or people — usually + of

• The talks covered a wide/great variety of topics. [=the talks covered many different topics]
• The company sells a variety of gardening products.
• They broke up for a variety of reasons.
• The conference attracts a wide variety of people.
• He has a variety of health problems.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples 2 [noncount] : the quality or state of having or including many different things

• I was surprised by the variety of the choices that were available.
• Our diet lacks variety.
• My life needs more variety.
• You know what they say: variety is the spice of life. [=life is more interesting and enjoyable when you do different things]

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples 3 [count] : a particular kind of person or thing

• The museum has aircraft of every variety. [=kind, sort]
• people of all varieties
• different varieties of oranges
• exotic varieties of snakes

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples 4 [noncount] : a type of entertainment that has many short performances (such as dances, skits, and songs) which follow one another and that are not related — usually used before another noun

• variety shows
• variety performers/theater

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples — see also garden-variety ASK THE EDITOR

What are the plural forms of check-in, passerby, and spoonful? See the answer »

QUIZZES Vocabulary Quiz Test your word power Take the Quiz » Name That Thing Take our visual quiz Test Your Knowledge » WORD OF THE DAY

impair : to make (something) weaker or worse Learn More »

1. About Us & Legal Info
2. Contact Us
3. Privacy Notice
4. Terms of Use
5. Pronunciation Symbols
6. Help

© 2026 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.