deviance

noun

de·​vi·​ance ˈdē-vē-ən(t)s How to pronounce deviance (audio)
: deviant quality, state, or behavior

Examples of deviance in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Into this apparently stable and monochrome existence, Eng then introduces the gentle subversion and deviance of his more interesting subplots—Lesley’s passion for Sun Yat-sen’s cause, Lesley’s passion for Arthur, Maugham’s passion for Gerald, Robert’s erotic wandering. James Wood, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023 Any factor – abuse, neglect, deviance, bullying – might have different influences on different people, and new experiences can modify perceptions positively or negatively. Alaa Elassar, CNN, 24 July 2023 People in those societies don’t tolerate deviance and generally follow the rules. Michele Gelfand, Foreign Affairs, 22 June 2021 Sloman, who had a master’s degree in deviance and criminology from the University of Wisconsin, had begun his time on the tour reporting for Rolling Stone. Robert Greenfield, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Apr. 2023 The reason reality shows about hoarding flourished a decade ago, the critic Scott Herring has argued, is that hoarding was a special case in which the larger culture tipped into definable deviance. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper’s Magazine , 7 Dec. 2021 One study found that people littered in their work environments as an act of deviance against their employer. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 8 Apr. 2023 After the actual census data was released in August, Republicans said their analysis showed the map passed in May had a population deviance of 30% between its most populated and least populated House districts — at odds with a 10% variance allowed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Rick Pearson, chicagotribune.com, 1 Sep. 2021 Oleksiy Makeev, Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany was also there, and raised his fist in deviance when the camera panned to him. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deviance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1941, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deviance was in 1941

Dictionary Entries Near deviance

Cite this Entry

“Deviance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deviance. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

deviance

noun
de·​vi·​ance ˈdē-vē-ən(t)s How to pronounce deviance (audio)
: quality, state, or behavior that differs from what is normal or accepted

Medical Definition

deviance

noun
de·​vi·​ance ˈdē-vē-ən(t)s How to pronounce deviance (audio)
: deviant quality, state, or behavior

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