variance

A difference between conflicting facts or claims or opinions.

An activity that varies from a norm or standard.

Discord that splits a group.

An event that departs from expectations.

The quality of being subject to variation.

An official dispensation to act contrary to a rule or regulation (typically a building regulation).

“a zoning variance”

The second moment around the mean; the expected value of the square of the deviations of a random variable from its mean value.