inconsistency

noun

in·​con·​sis·​ten·​cy ˌin-kən-ˈsi-stən(t)-sē 

1

: an instance of being inconsistent

… treats every human inconsistency as a hypocrisy …

—G. K. Chesterton

2

: the quality or state of being inconsistent

inconsistency in the restaurant's service

noticed inconsistency in the two statements

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 timing couldn’t be better for the Royals, whose bullpen has been stretched thin by injuries and inconsistency. — Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026

The report released last year from the Office of Performance Evaluations found the money’s use wasn’t addressed in state law, which led to inconsistencies and ambiguity on what it can be used for. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 1 July 2026

The inconsistency in messaging raises further doubts that negotiators can meet their 60-day deadline after the two sides traded attacks over the weekend, straining their already fragile ceasefire. — Deva Lee, CNN Money, 30 June 2026

Without rigorous normalization governance, inconsistencies in how the same underlying reality is represented across feeds produce systematic noise that no model can fully overcome. — Lev Yatsemyrskyi, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for inconsistency

• consistency
• persistency

Kids Definition

inconsistency

noun

in·​con·​sis·​ten·​cy ˌin-kən-ˈsis-tən-sē 

plural inconsistencies

1

: the quality or state of being inconsistent

2

: an example of being inconsistent