deviate

/'di:vieit/

Definition

Verb:
- To depart from an established course or standard: To turn away or diverge from what is considered normal, expected, or prescribed.
- To differ or vary from a norm: To behave or think in a way that is different from what is typical or accepted.
Noun:
- A person who departs from accepted standards: An individual, especially regarding behavior or ideas, that differs markedly from what is considered normal or acceptable.
Adjective:
- Markedly different from an accepted norm: Describing something or someone that diverges from standard practices, behaviors, or ideas.

Usage Examples

Verb:
- The plane had to deviate from its flight path due to a storm.
- He never deviates from his morning routine.
- The report does not deviate from the facts.
Noun:
- In the study, they interviewed several sexual deviates. (Note: This term is now often considered outdated or offensive in clinical contexts; terms like "sexual offender" or specific diagnoses are preferred.)
Adjective:
- The scientist studied deviate behavior in the controlled environment. (Note: "Deviant" is a more common adjective form.)

Advanced Usage

Statistical Deviation: In mathematics and statistics, to "deviate" refers to a difference from a standard or average value.
- Each data point deviates from the mean by a calculable amount.
Deviate as a Deliberate Action: Can imply a conscious choice to stray from a path or rule.
- The politician chose to deviate from his party's official stance on the issue.

Variants and Related Words

Deviation (n): The act of deviating or the amount by which something deviates.
- A slight deviation in the compass reading.
Deviant (adj/n): More commonly used than "deviate" as an adjective. As a noun, it is often used in sociology.
- Deviant social behavior.
Devious (adj): Straying from the right course; not straightforward. Can imply deceit.
- He took a devious route to avoid being seen.

Synonyms

Verb: Diverge, stray, veer, depart, digress, swerve.
Noun: Nonconformist, outlier, misfit. (Context-specific: offender, pervert).
Adjective: Aberrant, abnormal, nonstandard, irregular.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

Deviate from: This is the standard construction. The verb is almost always followed by "from."
- You must not deviate from the instructions.
- Her account deviates significantly from the eyewitness testimony.

Related Idioms

To stray from the path/straight and narrow: To deviate from morally correct behavior.
- After years of honesty, he began to stray from the straight and narrow.
To go off on a tangent: To deviate suddenly from the main topic in speech or thought.
- The professor tends to go off on a tangent during lectures.

Adjective

Noun

a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable especially in sexual behavior

Verb

cause to turn away from a previous or expected course
- The river was deviated to prevent flooding
be at variance with; be out of line with
turn aside; turn away from

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