'deviance' originates from French, specifically the word 'déviance' (built from dévier 'to deviate'), ultimately from Latin 'deviare', where 'de-' meant 'off' and 'via' meant 'way'.

'deviare' changed into Old/Middle French forms (e.g. dévier), then into the English adjective 'deviant' and finally the noun 'deviance' in modern English (early 20th century formation from deviant + -ce).

Initially it meant 'to go off the road' or 'to turn aside' (literal sense), but over time it evolved into meanings like 'departure from a norm' and specifically 'behavior that departs from social norms'.