A "textual variant" refers to a difference found in the wording of a text when compared to other versions of the same document. These differences can occur in ancient manuscripts, literary works, or religious texts, often due to copying errors, intentional changes, or variations in dialect. Scholars study these variants to understand how texts have evolved over time. Textual variants are particularly significant in the field of textual criticism, which analyzes these differences to determine the most accurate version of a text. This process is essential for works like the Bible or classical literature, where multiple copies exist, each with unique alterations.