Variation
Part of speech: noun
Definition: The act or state of varying; a partial change in the form, position, state, or qualities of a thing; modification; alternation; mutation; diversity; deviation; as, a variation of color in different lights; a variation in size; variation of language. A distinct object or thing. The angular difference at the vessel between the direction of true north and magnetic north. Also called magnetic declination. a line of play that differs from the original
Example sentence: In every religion I can think of, there exists some variation on the theme of abandoning the settled life and walking one's way to godliness. The Hindu sadhu, the pilgrims of Compostela walking past their sins, the circumambulators of the Buddhist kora, the haj.
Variant
Part of speech: noun
Definition: Something that is slightly different from a type or norm.A different sequence of a gene (locus).A random number.
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: showing variety, diverseshowing deviation or disagreementvariable
Example sentence: I do stretches every morning and serious yoga. Not the hot, sweaty type - I don't believe yoga is calisthenics in fancy pants. I practise a variant of hatha yoga.