What term describes a variety of a language distinct from the standard variety in pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary?

Dialect is the term that refers to a variety of a language that has distinct features in pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary, distinguishing it from the standard form of that language. Each dialect can reflect particular geographic regions, social groups, or even cultural backgrounds. This variation allows speakers within a specific community to communicate in a way that feels natural and familiar to them, while also expressing their identity and heritage.

While accent pertains specifically to the pronunciation of words, which can vary within the same dialect, dialect encompasses broader distinctions, including unique vocabulary and grammatical structures. Idioms are phrases that have figurative meanings not deducible from the individual words, and slang consists of informal, nonstandard terms often characterized by their novelty and changing usage. These terms are more specific and do not capture the full range of variations that dialect covers. Thus, dialect is the most inclusive and appropriate term for the question posed.