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 The lack of clear top-down instruction — state workers have previously told The Sacramento Bee — led to inconsistencies and confusion between some agencies and departments. Maya Miller, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2024 But online followers quickly pointed out inconsistencies and argued that the photo wasn’t actually of Kate. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024 For instance, the image shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s left hand. Jill Lawless, Twin Cities, 11 Mar. 2024 Others have highlighted inconsistencies in the alignment of the sweater pattern on Prince Louis' shoulder, as well as a jagged white line in the background near his knee. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 Although that requirement elapsed in 1945, numerous states and cities adopted their own daylight-time mandates, creating inconsistencies that caused headaches for the transportation industry, the Congressional Research Service said in a 1998 report. Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Nonetheless, this structure often suffers from fragmented communication and a lack of holistic oversight over property performance, leading to potential service inconsistencies and oversight gaps. Anthony A. Luna, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Deepfakes often contain a subject artificially imposed onto a background, which could create inconsistencies with lights and shadows. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2024 Buffalo reverted to its inconsistencies by dropping to 9-8 in its past 17, and failing to build off a 7-0 victory over the Kings on Tuesday night. John Wawrow, USA TODAY, 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 28 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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