deviate
/ˈdiːvieɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdiːvieɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈdē-vē-ˌāt/ (ame, mw)
deviate — 動詞
- deviatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- deviateshe / she / it
- deviatedpast simple
- deviating-ing form
1. to act or think in a way that is not usual, accepted, or expected — for example,
脫離；出格
行為偏離常規或規則
to act or think in a way that is not usual, accepted, or expected — for example, when a company's rules say one thing but an employee does another, or when a person's choices go against what most people in their community consider normal.
The chef never deviates from the original recipe his grandmother taught him.
這位廚師從來不會偏離祖母教他的原始食譜。
collocation: deviate from [standard / principle / rule]
School policy says no jewellery, and Mei refuses to deviate from that rule.
學校規定不能戴首飾，Mei 堅持不違反這條規則。
Amir deviated from the script during the play and surprised everyone with a new line.
Amir 在話劇中脫離劇本演出，臨場加了一句台詞，讓在場所有人都很驚訝。
When the test results deviate from the expected pattern, the lab must run the experiment again.
當檢驗結果偏離預期模式時，實驗室必須重新進行實驗。
文法句型
deviate + from + noun
用法筆記
Frequently followed by the preposition 'from' to state what principle or standard the subject is moving away from. The object is usually a rule, plan, standard, or expected behaviour.
常見錯誤
2. to move away from a planned route, line, or direction — used when a vehicle, per
偏離；背離
離開預定路線或方向
to move away from a planned route, line, or direction — used when a vehicle, person, or natural object does not stay on the expected course.
The plane deviated from its usual flight path to avoid a storm over the Pacific.
這架飛機偏離了平時的航線，以避開太平洋上的一場暴風雨。
collocation: deviate from path / route / course
Hikers were told not to deviate from the marked trail because of the loose rocks near the cliff.
登山客被告知不要偏離標記步道，因為懸崖附近有鬆動的岩石。
The river deviates slightly to the south just past the old bridge, creating a small island.
這條河在舊橋稍微偏南轉彎，形成了一座小島。
- turn aside
more literal; describes a physical change of direction
- swerve
sudden, sharp movement; implies urgency or avoidance
- stay on course
to continue along the intended path
文法句型
deviate + from + noun (of path/location)
用法筆記
The object of 'from' is a physical path, route, or location rather than an abstract principle. Common in aviation, navigation, and hiking contexts.
常見錯誤
3. to make something move away from its original or intended direction — used when
使偏離
讓某事物偏離原本方向
to make something move away from its original or intended direction — used when an external force or person changes the course of an object, process, or abstract thing like attention.
A strong gust of wind deviated the arrow from its path toward the target.
一陣強風使箭偏離了瞄準靶心的路徑。
transitive use: deviate + object + from + noun
The economist argued that government spending had deviated the country's development from its planned goals.
這位經濟學家主張，政府支出使國家發展偏離了原本規劃的目標。
文法句型
deviate + object + from + noun
用法筆記
This transitive sense is less common than the intransitive uses (senses 1 and 2). The subject is the force or agent doing the redirecting. The object is what gets turned away.
deviate — 名詞
1. a person whose behaviour or beliefs are very different from what most people in
脫軌者
行為偏離常規的人
a person whose behaviour or beliefs are very different from what most people in a society consider normal or acceptable — often used in discussions of social rules, sexuality, or moral standards.
The documentary explored the lives of social deviates who chose to live outside the city's strict community rules.
這部紀錄片探討了那些選擇脫離嚴格社區規範生活的社會邊緣人。
collocation: social deviate / sexual deviate
In some novels from the 1950s, any character who refused marriage was labelled a deviate by the author.
在 1950 年代的一些小說中，任何拒絕結婚的角色都會被作者貼上脫軌者的標籤。
- deviant
the more common modern term for a person who breaks social norms
- nonconformist
less negative; suggests independent thinking rather than wrongdoing
- conformist
someone who follows social norms and expectations
用法筆記
Can carry a negative or judgemental tone. 'Deviant' is more common for this meaning in modern usage; 'deviate' as a noun sounds slightly dated or clinical.
常見錯誤
2. a number in statistics that shows how much a single value in a set differs from
偏差值
衡量數據偏離程度的統計量
a number in statistics that shows how much a single value in a set differs from the average or from a fixed reference point — for example, how far a student's test score is from the class average.
Dr. Nakamura noticed that one exam score was a statistical deviate nearly three standard deviations above the class mean.
Dr. Nakamura 注意到班上有一個考試成績是統計偏差值，比全班平均高出將近三個標準差。
domain: statistics; collocation: statistical deviate; real-world data analysis context
The researchers plotted each deviate on a graph to see which data points were furthest from the mean.
研究人員在圖表上標出每個偏差值，以找出離平均值最遠的數據點。
pattern: plotted each deviate / calculate the deviate
- residual
another statistical term meaning the difference between an observed value and the predicted value
- error term
the part of a data point that cannot be explained by the model
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in technical statistics texts. In everyday language, 'deviation' is far more common than 'deviate' for this concept.
deviate — 形容詞
- deviatepositive
- more deviatecomparative
- most deviatesuperlative
1. describing behaviour or a person that is clearly different from what a particula
describing behaviour or a person that is clearly different from what a particular society accepts as normal — typically used in formal or clinical discussion of social rules.
The study examined deviate behaviour among teenagers in highly controlled school environments.
attributive use before nouns: deviate behaviour / deviate tendencies
The prison system separates inmates who show deviate tendencies from the general population for safety reasons.
- normal
conforming to the usual standards or expectations
- conventional
following accepted customs and practices
用法筆記
This adjective use is relatively rare. 'Deviant' is the standard adjective form in modern English; 'deviate' as an adjective sounds formal and slightly clinical.