variancevar·i·ance /ˈveəriənsˈver-/ noun1[uncountableU] the amount by which two or more things are differentThere’s a wide variance in the two sets of data.
2[countableC, uncountableU]ACCOUNTING the difference between what something actually costs and its usual or standard cost, or its cost when calculated earlierA significant variance is one amounting to more than 10% of the allocated budget.
3[countableC] American EnglishAmELAW an arrangement in which a court of law allows a company to do something that would not normally be allowedSYN BrE exemptionThe authoritygranted a variance so the company could install the satellite dish.
4[countableC] American EnglishAmE an arrangement in which a local government authority allows someone to do something to their property that would not normally be allowed