variation, fluctuation - an instance of change; the rate or magnitude of change

variance, variant, discrepancy - an event that departs from expectations

driftage - the deviation (by a vessel or aircraft) from its intended course due to drifting

flection, flexion, inflection - deviation from a straight or normal course

statistics - a branch of applied mathematics concerned with the collection and interpretation of quantitative data and the use of probability theory to estimate population parameters

statistic - a datum that can be represented numerically

outlier - an extreme deviation from the mean

mean deviation, mean deviation from the mean - the arithmetic mean of the absolute values of deviations from the mean of a distribution

erroneousness, error - inadvertent incorrectness

irregularity, abnormality - behavior that breaches the rule or etiquette or custom or morality

turning, turn - the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course; "he took a turn to the right"

red herring - any diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue