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Abstract: The article deals with the problem of heterogeneity and ambiguity of the theory of variation in linguistics. It analyzes the following contradiction in modern linguistics: on the one hand, there are many terms used in the description of linguistic variation processes on different levels of the language system (variation, variance, variability, etc., such terms as variant, invariant), on the other hand, there is no system in using these terms, which leads to a mess in terminology, substitution of notions and malstructured metalanguage. The current situation demands unification of terminology that would provide its unity, unambiguity and elimination of inaccuracy and contradiction in the meaning and usage of terms. Providing a well-defined conformity between the system of notions and the terminological system does not exclude, however, the absence of synonymy, polysemy etc. within the boundaries of the identity of sign. The article reveals a selection of terminological units of the theory of variology, an analysis of their definitions, given in specialized dictionaries and reference books in linguistics; it also compares the English and Russian terminology of the theory of variology. The analysis reveals the following facts: the foreign terminology of the theory of variology is more structured than the Russian one, there are difficulties in its translation into Russian, difficulty in searching the best equivalent. In conclusion, the author makes an attempt to solve the problem within the scope of the undertaken research. Despite the fact, that the theory of variation represents only a tiny aspect of the linguistic theory, it grasps and touches upon different areas of the language – Phonetics, Grammar, Lexicology, - so the unification of the theory of variology would facilitate a high-rate teaching level of many linguistic subjects in professional language teaching.