Inconsistency
/ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənsi/
Definitions
The quality of being inconsistent; lack of agreement or harmony between parts or things.
/ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənsi/
Lack of agreement or harmony between parts or things
There was an inconsistency between his words and his actions.
💡 Simply: It's like when things don't match up or fit together. Like, if you say you love pizza but then you say you hate it—that's an inconsistency!
👶 For kids: When things don't match up or go together, like when you say one thing and do another.
More Examples
The report highlighted inconsistencies in the data.
The inconsistency in the witness's testimony made it difficult to trust her.
How It's Used
"The inconsistency in her story raised suspicions."
"The experimental results showed an inconsistency with the established theory."
"An inconsistency in a set of logical statements renders the entire system unreliable."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
inconsistent with
Not in agreement or harmony with something.
"His behavior was inconsistent with his stated beliefs."
From Late Latin *inconsistentia*, from *in-*, meaning "not," and *consistens*, the present participle of *consistere* ("to stand together, be consistent").
The word gained popularity in the 17th and 18th centuries as a term used in logic and philosophy to describe contradictions and unreliable systems.
Memory tip
Imagine a puzzle where some pieces don't fit - that's inconsistency.
Word Origin
"not standing together or agreeing"