Meanings
nounmagnetic variation (countable and uncountable, plural magnetic variations)
plural magnetic variations
- countableuncountablenavigationgovernmentIn navigation, at a given place and time, the horizontal angle between the true north and magnetic north measured east or west according to whether magnetic north lies east or west of true north.
- countableuncountablecartographyIn cartography, the annual change in direction of the horizontal component of the Earth’s magnetic field.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounthe angle (at a particular location) between magnetic north and true north
Broader
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
Finnish variaatio
- variaationautical term
Romanian variație magnetică
- variație magneticănautical term
Tagalog balniing kaaligan
- balniing kaaligannautical term
Cite this entry
APA
magnetic variation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magnetic%20variation
MLA
“magnetic variation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magnetic%20variation. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “magnetic variation,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magnetic%20variation.
Source: magnetic variation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.