# deviant

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈdiː.vi.ənt/ · frequency rank #27,805

## Definitions
1. Characterized by deviation from an expectation or a social standard.

## Etymology
From Middle English devyaunt (“deviating, different”), from Late Latin dēviāns, present participle of dēviō (“to stray, deviate or detour”). The noun is from the adjective, possibly attested in Middle English with the meaning “one who goes astray”.
* (DeviantArt member): So called because the website was originally for people who modified (deviated) computer applications.

## Easily confused with
- **Devin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deviant-vs-devin)
- **Devine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deviant-vs-devine)
- **deviate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deviant-vs-deviate)
- **defiant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/defiant-vs-deviant)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ddeviant`, `deivant`, `devaint`, `deviannt`, `deviantt`, `deviatn`, `devinat`, `devviant`, `dveiant`, `edviant`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/deviant