deviate

/ˈdiːvieɪt/ formal

Say it: DEE-vee-ayt

1. verb To depart from an established course, plan, standard, or topic.
The pilot had to deviate from the flight plan to avoid the storm.
2. verb To differ from a norm or what is considered standard, especially in statistics or science.
The experimental results deviated significantly from the expected values.
3. noun A person whose behavior, especially sexual behavior, is considered abnormal or unacceptable.
In older psychological texts, the term 'deviate' was used to label non-conforming individuals.

📖 Seen in the wild

The pilot had to deviate from the planned flight path due to severe turbulence.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ deviate in a sentence

Any team member who deviates from the project's guidelines must get approval first.
The investigation will determine why the ship deviated from its designated shipping lane.
We can't deviate from the recipe, or the cake won't turn out right.
Her testimony never deviated on any of the key points, even under cross-examination.
The bus had to deviate from its usual route because of the parade.
He was a man who refused to deviate from his principles, no matter the personal cost.
The new software build deviates from the original specifications in several important ways.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

diverge stray veer depart digress swerve differ err

diverge · suggests splitting from a common point, often neutrally.

stray · implies wandering off course, often accidentally or aimlessly.

veer · indicates a sharp or sudden turn from a course.

depart · a more general term for leaving a set path or standard.

Opposites: conform, adhere, follow, stick to, maintain

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'deviate' comes to us from Latin. It's built from the prefix 'de-', meaning 'off' or 'away from', and the word 'via', meaning 'way' or 'road'. So, to deviate literally means to go off the road, a sense that has remained remarkably consistent to this day.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

deviate from the plandeviate from the normdeviate from the pathdeviate from the standarddeviate significantly

As a verb, 'deviate' is a formal and precise choice, often preferable to 'go off track' in professional or academic writing. It is almost always followed by the preposition 'from'. Be very cautious when using 'deviate' as a noun; it is an outdated and often offensive label for a person considered socially or sexually abnormal. The related word 'deviant' carries the same strong negative connotation.

Word family: deviation, deviant, deviance

💬 Quick answers

What does it mean to deviate?

To deviate means to turn aside or depart from an established course, plan, or standard. It's about moving away from what is expected, required, or normal.

What is the difference between 'deviate' and 'diverge'?

'Deviate' often implies departing from a single correct or required path. 'Diverge' is more neutral and describes two or more things splitting off from a common point and going in different directions.

Is 'deviate' a negative word?

The verb 'deviate' is often neutral, simply meaning a change of course. However, the noun 'deviate' is almost always negative and can be offensive, as it labels a person as abnormal.

How do you use 'deviate' in a sentence?

It is almost always followed by the preposition 'from'. For example, 'The speaker started to deviate from his prepared notes.'

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