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Glite Dictionary
🧩 Unusual behavior 📊 Difference from normal
deviancy

deviancy

8.4
How much something differs from a standard or what was expected
  • noun
  • /ˈdiːviənsi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : desviación
  • The report analyzed the deviancy from the expected performance standards.

Examples

  • A high level of deviancy in the data set may indicate an error in measurement.

  • The scientist measured the deviancy of the results to determine if the experiment was successful.

  • The deviancy in the data was alarming.

  • Researchers noted several instances of deviancy in the results.

  • The scientist measured the deviancy of the results to determine if the experiment was successful.

  • A high level of deviancy in the data set may indicate an error in measurement.

  • The report analyzed the deviancy from the expected performance standards.

Synonyms

deviation
vsdeviancy
25 5.3

A difference from what is usual or expected

focuses on the quantitative amount of difference used in technical settings
divergence
vsdeviancy
9 7.1

A difference from a standard or expected result

measures the amount of that difference especially in technical or statistical contexts
anomalousness
vsdeviancy
  • Specialized
9.1

A number that shows how much a data point differs from what is normal

measures degree of difference more generally, not only a numeric flag
unusualness
vsdeviancy
  • Specialized
7.4

A number showing how much a data point differs from other points in the set

focuses on the general degree or amount across contexts rather than only scores
aberrancy
vsdeviancy
9.9

A state of being very different from what is normal

refers to the measured amount of difference rather than the state itself
aberrance
vsdeviancy
9.2

A change from what is normal or expected

expresses the quantitative amount of difference instead of the condition or state

Antonyms

standard
∞ 1.6

An agreed level of quality or rule for judging something

norm
187 3.7

A usual way people in a group behave

How Different

outlier
  • Specialized
35 6.7
deviancy
  • Specialized
8.4
agreement
  • Specialized
6 1.6

Surface Forms

deviancy singular
deviancies plural

Morphology

deviancy = deviant (semi-transparent) = deviant + cy

Morphologically regular (deviant + -cy), but the technical/statistical meaning 'degree of difference' is closer to 'deviation' and may not be the first inference for learners.

Etymology

Deviancy comes from old Latin parts de- ('off') and via ('way'), the same idea behind the verb deviate which means to move away from the usual path, so in measurement it refers to how far something is 'off' from a standard or expected value.