the act of deviating.

departure from a standard or norm.

Statistics . the difference between one of a set of values and some fixed value, usually the mean of the set.

Navigation . the error of a magnetic compass, as that of a ship, on a given heading as a result of local magnetism. Compare variation ( def. 8 ) .

Optics .

Also called deflection. the bending of rays of light away from a straight line.

angle of deviation.

departure or divergence from an established dogma or ideology, esp. a Communist one.

noun

conformity , sameness , straightforwardness , uniformity

noun

aberration , alteration , anomaly , breach , crotch , deflection , detour , difference , digression , discrepancy , disparity , divergence , diversion , fluctuation , fork , hereticism , inconsistency , irregularity , modification , shift , transgression , turning , variance , variation , departure , divergency , aside , divagation , excursion , excursus , irrelevancy , parenthesis , tangent , aberrance , aberrancy , deviance , deviancy , preternaturalness , unnaturalness , abnormality , error , perversion , swerving