What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
difference
Example
What is the difference between these two products? [difference: noun]
Example
They had a difference of opinion on the best approach. [difference: noun]
Example
There was a noticeable difference in her behavior after the incident. [difference: noun]
variation
Example
There is some variation in the color of these flowers. [variation: noun]
Example
The restaurant offers a variation of dishes to suit different tastes. [variation: noun]
Example
The temperature showed some variation throughout the day. [variation: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Difference is more common in everyday language than variation. It is a versatile word that can be used in a variety of contexts to describe contrasts or disagreements. On the other hand, variation is more often used in scientific or technical contexts to describe differences or deviations from a standard or norm.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between difference and variation?
Both difference and variation can be used in formal or informal contexts, but variation is more commonly used in technical or scientific writing, which tends to be more formal in tone.
