deviate

[dee-vee-eyt, dee-vee-it]

verb (used without object)

deviated, deviating 

1. to turn aside, as from a route, way, course, etc.

   Synonyms: stray, wander, veer

2. to depart or swerve, as from a procedure, course of action, or acceptable norm.

3. to digress, as from a line of thought or reasoning.

verb (used with object)

deviated, deviating 

1. to cause to swerve; turn aside.

adjective

1. characterized by deviation or departure from an accepted norm or standard, as of behavior.

noun

1. a person or thing that departs from the accepted norm or standard.

2. a person whose sexual behavior departs from the norm in a way that is considered socially or morally unacceptable.

3. Statistics.,  a variable equal to the difference between a variate and some fixed value, often the mean.

deviate

verb

1. (usually intr) to differ or diverge or cause to differ or diverge, as in belief or thought

2. (usually intr) to turn aside or cause to turn aside; diverge or cause to diverge

3. (intr) psychol to depart from an accepted standard or convention

noun

1. another word for deviant

Other Word Forms

• deviatory adjective
• deviator noun
• deviable adjective
• deviability noun
• nondeviating adjective
• undeviable adjective
• undeviated adjective
• undeviating adjective
• undeviatingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of deviate¹

First recorded in 1625–35; from Late Latin dēviātus “turned from the road,” past participle of dēviāre “to stray, turn from the road,” from Latin dē- de- + vi(a) “road, way” + āre, infinitive verb suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of deviate¹

C17: from Late Latin dēviāre to turn aside from the direct road, from _de- + via road

Synonym Study

Deviate, digress, diverge, swerve imply turning or going aside from a path. To deviate is to turn or wander, often by slight degrees, from what is considered the most direct or desirable approach to a given physical, intellectual, or moral end: Fear caused him to deviate from the truth. To digress is primarily to wander from the main theme or topic in writing or speaking: Some authors digress to relate entertaining episodes. Two paths diverge when they proceed from a common point in such directions that the distance between them increases: The sides of an angle diverge from a common point. Their interests gradually diverged. To swerve is to make a sudden or sharp turn from a line or course: The car swerved to avoid striking a pedestrian.

Example Sentences

Before the two-day US Open mixed doubles, sources told BBC Sport it was unlikely the rest would deviate from the traditional format.

From BBC

Also, the two oldest Grand Slam tournaments are generally also more reluctant to deviate from time-honoured traditions.

From BBC

For both her and her audience, a woman who deviates even slightly — such as by marrying a much-younger man — simply can’t exist.

From Salon

This time, L.A. city and county officials said they will not deviate from their efforts to place homeless people in interim and permanent housing locally.

From Los Angeles Times

"The answer to the Ukrainian territorial issue is already in the Constitution of Ukraine. No one will and cannot deviate from this," he added.

From BBC

Related Words

• depart 
• differ 
• diverge 
• vary 
• veer