verb

deviate

DEE-vee-ayt

verb

To move away from a planned course, method, or expected standard.

"The pilot had to deviate from the flight path to avoid the storm."

"Please don't deviate from the recipe on your first attempt."

noun

A measured value showing how far a variable differs from a fixed reference point.

"Each deviate was plotted against the expected mean."

How to Use Deviate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo go off the expected route, plan, or pattern.

Common mistake

As a verb it means "to stray"; as an old-fashioned noun it can mean a deviant person — that noun use is now rare and sounds clinical or dated.

Easily confused with

deviant →

Common pairings

deviate from the plan deviate from the norm slightly deviate

deviated past tense, deviates plural, deviates singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The pilot had to _____ from the flight path to avoid the storm.

From Late Latin dēviātus, past participle of dēviāre, "to turn out of the way" — from de- ("off") + via ("road").

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