n. (pl. -ies) 1 diversity; absence of uniformity; many-sidedness; the condition of being various (not enough variety in our lives). 2 a quantity or collection of different things (for a variety of reasons). 3 a a class of things different in some common qualities from the rest of a larger class to which they belong. b a specimen or member of such a class. 4 (foll. by of) a different form of a thing, quality, etc. 5 Biol. a a subspecies. b a cultivar. c an individual or group usually fertile within the species to which it belongs but differing from the species type in some qualities capable of perpetuation. 6 a mixed sequence of dances, songs, comedy acts, etc. (usu. attrib.: a variety show). variety store US a shop selling many kinds of small items.
[ F variété or L varietas (as VARIOUS) ]