# deviate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈdiː.vi.eɪt/ · frequency rank #26,751

## Definitions
1. To go off course from; to change course; to change plans.
2. To fall outside of, or part from, some norm; to stray.
3. To cause to diverge.

## Etymology
From Late Latin dēviātus, perfect passive participle of dēviō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more. Compare French dévier.

## Easily confused with
- **device** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deviate-vs-device)
- **devote** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deviate-vs-devote)
- **devise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deviate-vs-devise)
- **Devine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deviate-vs-devine)
- **Devito** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deviate-vs-devito)
- **debate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/debate-vs-deviate)
- **deviant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deviant-vs-deviate)
- **deflate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/deflate-vs-deviate)
- **delicate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/delicate-vs-deviate)
- **dedicate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dedicate-vs-deviate)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ddeviate`, `deivate`, `devaite`, `deviaet`, `deviatte`, `devitae`, `devviate`, `dveiate`, `edviate`

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