Inconsistent
/ɪnkənˈsɪstənt/
Definitions
Not staying the same throughout; not in agreement.
/ɪnkənˈsɪstənt/
Not staying the same; at odds; contradictory.
The student's grades were inconsistent, sometimes high and sometimes low.
💡 Simply: Imagine your friend always telling you different versions of the same story. They're being inconsistent, like a weather forecast that changes every hour!
👶 For kids: Something that is inconsistent is when it doesn't stay the same or match up.
More Examples
His story was inconsistent with the facts.
The results of the two experiments were inconsistent, making it difficult to draw any conclusions.
How It's Used
"The evidence presented in court was inconsistent."
"Her inconsistent behavior made it difficult to trust her."
"The inconsistent data led to erroneous conclusions."
Idioms & expressions
inconsistent with
Not in agreement or harmony with something.
"His behavior was inconsistent with his stated beliefs."
From Latin *in-* (not) + *consistens*, present participle of *consistere* (to stand firm). The word developed in Middle English.
The word gained popularity in the 17th century with the growth of philosophical discourse on logical consistency.
Memory tip
Think of an inconsistent recipe: the ingredients or directions change each time, leading to unpredictable results. Consistency = same; Inconsistency = not the same.