inconsistency

noun

in·​con·​sis·​ten·​cy ˌin-kən-ˈsi-stən(t)-sē How to pronounce inconsistency (audio)
1
: an instance of being inconsistent
2
: the quality or state of being inconsistent

Examples of inconsistency in a Sentence

Police noticed inconsistency in his two statements. Customers have been complaining about the inconsistency in the quality of service they have received. The team's biggest problem has been inconsistency: it has played well at times, but at other times it has played very poorly. There is some inconsistency in her argument. Careful editing of the entire text has eliminated inconsistencies of style. We noted a major inconsistency in his story.
Recent Examples on the Web But close study of the image revealed inconsistencies that suggested it had been altered, for instance in the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s left hand with the sleeve of her sweater. Brian Melley, Twin Cities, 10 Mar. 2024 Critics often point to potential pitfalls such as conflicts, inconsistency, and ego collisions. Dean Debiase, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Another inconsistency to which some critics point is that his omnibus bill includes temporary tax hikes on the productive agricultural sector. Alvaro Vargas Llosa, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 Prosecution points to video, DNA evidence, Hill says there are 'inconsistencies' The courtroom was packed with family members of both Hill and Mangan as the first witness took the stand Tuesday afternoon. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Feb. 2024 But another victim of this approach is U.S. credibility, which has been damaged by what is at best inconsistency and at worst hypocrisy. Sarah Yager, Foreign Affairs, 12 Feb. 2024 Antony, whose tenure at Manchester United has been marked by inconsistency and unmet expectations, is one of those players that finds himself in a sense of limbo. Liam Canning, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Jimenez led the team with 11 saves in 2022, but was not much of a factor last season because of an elbow strain and inconsistency. Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2024 And yet occasional inconsistency doesn’t take away from the sense of the place as ambitious, and maybe on the cusp of becoming something really, really great. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inconsistency.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inconsistency was in 1647

Dictionary Entries Near inconsistency

Cite this Entry

“Inconsistency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inconsistency. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inconsistency

noun
in·​con·​sis·​ten·​cy ˌin-kən-ˈsis-tən-sē How to pronounce inconsistency (audio)
plural inconsistencies
1
: the quality or state of being inconsistent
2
: an example of being inconsistent
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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