deviate

[v. dee-vee-eyt; adj., n. dee-vee-it] /v. ˈdi viˌeɪt; adj., n. ˈdi vi ɪt/
verb (used without object), deviated, deviating.
1.
to turn aside, as from a route, way, course, etc.
2.
to depart or swerve, as from a procedure, course of action, or acceptable norm.
3.
to digress, as from a line of thought or reasoning.
verb (used with object), deviated, deviating.
4.
to cause to swerve; turn aside.
adjective
5.
characterized by deviation or departure from an accepted norm or standard, as of behavior.
noun
6.
a person or thing that departs from the accepted norm or standard.
7.
a person whose sexual behavior departs from the norm in a way that is considered socially or morally unacceptable.
8.
Statistics. a variable equal to the difference between a variate and some fixed value, often the mean.
Origin
1625-35; < Late Latin dēviātus turned from the straight road, past participle of dēviāre. See deviant, -ate1
Related forms
deviable, adjective
deviability
[dee-vee-uh-bil-i-tee] /ˌdi vi əˈbɪl ɪ ti/ (Show IPA), noun
deviator, noun
nondeviating, adjective
undeviable, adjective
undeviated, adjective
undeviating, adjective
undeviatingly, adverb
Can be confused
deviant, deviate.
Synonyms
1. veer, wander, stray. Deviate, digress, diverge, swerve imply turning or going aside from a path. To deviate is to turn or wander, often by slight degrees, from what is considered the most direct or desirable approach to a given physical, intellectual, or moral end: Fear caused him to deviate from the truth. To digress is primarily to wander from the main theme or topic in writing or speaking: Some authors digress to relate entertaining episodes. Two paths diverge when they proceed from a common point in such directions that the distance between them increases: The sides of an angle diverge from a common point. Their interests gradually diverged. To swerve is to make a sudden or sharp turn from a line or course: The car swerved to avoid striking a pedestrian.
Examples from the web for deviate
  • Central bars form when stellar orbits in a spiral galaxy become unstable and deviate from a circular path.
  • This latest doesn't deviate, but somehow manages to make these themes crisp and compelling.
  • It is a part of the law of nations, from which they never deviate.
  • However, the private regulators themselves would be liable if their guidelines were found to deviate from optimal care.
  • There's no reason to deviate from that formula.
  • Only a few scenes in the opening hour deviate from the show's tightly controlled, air-brushed presentation.
  • The fund may well deviate from the index in coming years — but for now, it's probably not worth what you're paying.
  • There is no scope to deviate.
  • Where they deviate is in details-word choice, section breaks, and punctuation-and in ambition and apparatus.
  • Those locales never deviate from standard time within their particular time zones.
British Dictionary definitions for deviate

deviate

verb (ˈdiːvɪˌeɪt)
1.
(usually intransitive) to differ or diverge or cause to differ or diverge, as in belief or thought
2.
(usually intransitive) to turn aside or cause to turn aside; diverge or cause to diverge
3.
(intransitive) (psychol) to depart from an accepted standard or convention
noun, adjective (ˈdiːvɪɪt)
4.
another word for deviant
Derived Forms
deviator, noun
deviatory, adjective
Word Origin
C17: from Late Latin dēviāre to turn aside from the direct road, from de- + via road
Word Origin and History for deviate
v.

1630s, from Late Latin deviatus, past participle of deviare "to turn out of the way" (see deviant). Related: Deviated; deviating. The noun meaning "sexual pervert" is attested from 1912.