Crossword Genius

Unexpectedly, 'retain VAR' is in report! (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

narrative

'report' is the definition.
(narrative is a kind of report)

'unexpectedly retain var' is the wordplay.
'unexpectedly' indicates an anagram.
'retain'+'var'='retainvar'
'retainvar' with letters rearranged gives 'NARRATIVE'.

'is in' is the link.

(Other definitions for narrative that I've seen before include "Popeye's vegetable" , "Story recounting events" , "Report" , "Chronicle" , "Story line" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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