variant vs different

variant is a noun but different is not a noun.

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

variant (noun)	different (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

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