A Quick and Simple Dictionary

deviation

1. Noun.  The act of deviating; a wandering from the way; variation from the common way, from an established rule, etc.; departure, as from the right course or the path of duty.
2. Noun.  The state or result of having deviated; a transgression; an act of sin; an error; an offense.
3. Noun.  (context, contract law) The voluntary and unnecessary departure of a ship from, or delay in, the regular and usual course of the specific voyage insured, thus releasing the underwriters from their responsibility.
4. Noun.  (context, Absolute Deviation) The shortest distance between the center of the target and the point where a projectile hits or bursts.
5. Noun.  (statistics) For interval variables and ratio variables, a measure of difference between the observed value and the mean.