VER-ee-uhn-siz
/ˈvɛɹiənsɪz/
variances is pronounced VER-ee-uhn-siz (/ˈvɛɹiənsɪz/). Variances (plural noun) refer to deviations or differences from a standard, expectation, or norm. In statistics or analysis, variances measure the spread of data points around the mean, while in general use they denote differences between things. The term often appears in formal or technical contexts and contrasts with uniformity or consistency.
Variances (plural noun) refer to deviations or differences from a standard, expectation, or norm. In statistics or analysis, variances measure the spread of data points around the mean, while in general use they denote differences between things. The term often appears in formal or technical contexts and contrasts with uniformity or consistency.
"The researchers reported several variances in the dataset that required further investigation."
"There are notable variances between the two experimental groups of equal size."
"We must account for seasonal variances when forecasting demand."
Pronounce as VER-ee-ən(ts)z, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈver.i.ən(t)s/; UK /ˈveə.ri.ən(t)s/; AU /ˈveə.ri.ən(ts)/. The final syllable is often reduced to a syllabic z sound; in fast speech it can sound like VER-ee-ənz or VER-ree-ənz depending on speaker. Feel the vowel in the first syllable as a full stressed vowel, then lightly pronounce -i- and end with a soft -ən(z).
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (saying variances with second-syllable stress), mispronouncing the first syllable as a long “var” with British ‘var’ as /vɛə/ rather than /ˈvɪər/ in some accents, and pronouncing the final -s as a separate syllable (creating ‘vari-ans’). Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable: VER-i-ən(z); reduce the middle to a short schwa or /ə/; end quickly with /z/ or /nz/ depending on linked sounds. Practice by isolating the first syllable, then bridging to -i-ən(s) smoothly.
In US English, /ˈver.i.ən(t)s/ with a clear /r/ and a light /t/ before the final /s/. In UK English, /ˈveə.ri.ən(ts)/ may feature a non-rhotic /r/ and a broader vowel in the first syllable, and the final cluster can be realized as /ts/ or a softened /t/ leading into /s/. Australian tends toward /ˈveə.ri.ən(ts)/ with a fairly centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and a less released final consonant. Across all, the predominance is on a strong first syllable, then a schwa-like middle, finishing with a subdued final consonant.
The difficulty lies in the sequence of unstressed syllables after a stressed initial syllable and the transition from a rhotic or non-rhotic medium to a light final consonant cluster. The middle -i-ən- can be a quick, reduced schwa that challenges learners to maintain clear articulation, and the final -s often blends with the preceding consonant. Focus on sustaining the first syllable’s vowel and then a smooth, rapid glide into the -ən(s) without inserting a full extra vowel.
A distinct feature is the interplay of a strong first syllable with a concise middle reduced vowel and a soft final cluster. You’ll want to avoid turning the middle into a full vowel-heavy diphthong; instead, use a brief /ə/ or /ɪ/ and glide into the final /ən(t)s/ or /n(ts)/. The uniqueness lies in the balance between the prominent VER sound and the quickly muted -iən(s) leading to a light, quick end.
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Variances comes from Latin varians, variantis, present participle of variāre “to change, alter, differentiate,” from varius “diverse, changing, of different kinds.” English borrowed varians via Latin during the late 16th to 17th centuries, where it retained mathematical and legal senses (e.g., variance, variance). The core notion is difference from a standard or mean, with variāre indicating changing form. The plural variances emerged as a direct extension of variance, capturing multiple instances of deviation. In statistics, variance acquired precise usage in the 19th century as mathematicians formalized the concept of spread around a central tendency. Over time, variances broadened to general usage indicating any deviations or differences among items, categories, or outcomes rather than a single numeric measurement. The term now appears across disciplines—from statistics and finance to linguistics and project management—retaining its core sense of non-uniformity or variability.
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Words that rhyme with "variances"
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