A change or difference in form%2C appearance%2C or character%3B a version or type' VARIANT (ABBR. VAR) is a three-letter abbreviation for a change or difference in form, appearance, or character; a version or type. This term is often used to describe different versions of the same product, such as a new model of a car or a different flavor of a food item. It can also be used to refer to different versions of a story or a piece of literature, such as a retelling of a classic fairy tale. Variants can also be used to describe different versions of a language, such as dialects or regional accents.