语言变体（Variety），是指语言在系统上和在条理上相互区分的各种形式。方言是散文风格、语言风格更广泛的概念。

从不同角度定义的方言：

个人语言idiolect: 每一个说话者都有自己的言语体系，有自己的独特说话语体。

In sociolinguistics a variety, also called a lect, is a specific form of a language or language cluster. This may include languages, dialects, registers, styles or other forms of language, as well as a standard variety. The use of the word "variety" to refer to these different forms avoids the use of the term language, which many people associate only with the standard language, and the term dialect, which is often associated with non-standard varieties thought of as less prestigious or "correct" than the standard. Linguists speak of both standard and non-standard varieties. "Lect" avoids the problem in ambiguous cases of deciding whether or not two varieties are distinct languages or dialects of a single language.