verb

deviate

/ˈdiːvieɪt/ · say it: DEE·vee·ayt

to depart from an established course

In Actions & Behavior

In more detail

1. (verb) to depart from an expected, planned, or usual course or standard

2. (verb) to differ or diverge from something

Examples

1. The plane had to deviate from its original flight path due to bad weather.
2. His behavior deviated significantly from what we expected of him.

How to use deviate

Deviate is used when someone or something moves away from an established course, standard, or expectation. It is more formal and precise than the casual 'go off track' and carries a neutral or slightly critical tone depending on context. Unlike digress (which typically applies to speech or discussion), deviate applies broadly to behavior, routes, values, or measurements.

Common phrases

deviate from the path
deviate from the norm
deviate from the plan
deviate significantly
slightly deviate

Synonyms

diverge · depart · digress · stray · veer

Opposites

conform · adhere · comply

Word family

deviation (noun) · deviant (adjective/noun) · deviance (noun) · deviating (adjective)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use deviate as a noun (e.g., 'he is a deviate') when the correct noun form is deviant or, in academic contexts, deviation itself.

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