Definition

1. Adjective phrase:
   • Not in agreement or harmony; conflicting or inconsistent: Describes a state where two or more things, ideas, or people are in disagreement, opposition, or do not match.
   • Widely discrepant or differing: Indicates a significant difference or divergence between elements.

Usage

• Common Structure: The phrase is typically used in the pattern "A is at variance with B" to show that A disagrees with, contradicts, or differs from B.
• Formality: This phrase is formal and is often used in written English, legal contexts, academic writing, or formal reports.

Examples

• Adjective phrase:
  • His actions were at variance with the company's official policy. (His actions did not agree with the company's policy.)
  • The witness's second statement was at variance with his first. (The second statement contradicted the first one.)
  • Their findings are at variance with established scientific theory. (Their findings conflict with the accepted theory.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be at variance": To be in a state of disagreement or conflict.
  • The two departments are at variance over the new budget. (The two departments disagree about the new budget.)
• "at variance on/over something": Disagreeing about a specific issue.
  • The allies found themselves at variance over the strategy. (The allies disagreed about the strategy.)

Variants and Related Words

• Variance (n): The fact or quality of being different, divergent, or in disagreement.
  • There is some variance in the data collected from the two sources.
• Vary (v): To be different or to change.
  • The symptoms vary from person to person.

Synonyms

• In conflict with: Directly opposing or clashing with.
• Contrary to: Opposite in nature, direction, or meaning.
• At odds with: In disagreement or conflict with (a more common, slightly less formal synonym).

Antonyms

• In accord with: In agreement or harmony with.
• Consistent with: Compatible or in agreement with; not contradictory.

Adjective

1. not in accord
   • desires at variance with his duty
   • widely discrepant statements