Definition

A situation where things do not agree or match, often leading to confusion or uncertainty.

Example

There were many inconsistencies in the report that made it hard to trust the findings.

Conversation

I noticed some inconsistency in your report last night.

Really? I thought I double-checked everything.

Yeah, some numbers didn't match up, which was confusing.

Thanks for pointing that out! I'll fix it before the meeting.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Inconsistency → It is formed from "in-" (meaning not) and "consistency" (from Latin "consistentia", meaning standing firm or together). The word describes a state of not standing firm or being reliable, indicating a lack of uniformity or stability.

Memory Tip

Think of 'not' ('in-') being combined with 'standing firm' ('consistentia') — that's why inconsistency means a lack of reliability or uniformity.

Visually Confused Words