different vs variant

different is not a noun while variant is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
different	No	Yes	No	No
variant	Yes	Yes	No	No

different (noun)	variant (noun)
	a variable quantity that is random
	something a little different from others of the same type
	an event that departs from expectations
	(biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups

different (adjective)	variant (adjective)
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree	differing from a norm or standard
distinctly separate from the first	exhibiting variation and change
differing from all others; not ordinary
distinct or separate