consistent
adjective
con·sis·tent
kən-ˈsi-stənt 
1
a
: marked by harmony, regularity, or steady continuity : free from variation or contradiction
a consistent style in painting
Data from recent experiments show consistent results.
Prior to World War I, many Americans didn't maintain consistent spellings of their first and last names.—
Michael Waters
Michael Waters
b
: marked by agreement : compatible
Their descriptions of the accident were consistent.
—usually used with withstatements not consistent with the truth
symptoms consistent with heart disease
The decision was consistent with the company's policy.
… the necropsy results revealed distinct holes in the wolves' skulls that were consistent with cougar bites.—Dac Collins
Dac Collins
c
: showing steady conformity to character, profession, belief, or custom
a consistent patriot
He is a consistent supporter of the museum.
d
: continuing to happen or develop in the same way
The pain has been consistent.
Your grades have shown consistent improvement.
2
: tending to be arbitrarily close to the true value of the parameter estimated as the sample becomes large
a consistent statistical estimator
3
archaic
: possessing firmness or coherence
consistently
adverb
We played consistently all season.
The store has consistently low prices.
Examples of consistent in a Sentence
… the sixty-five-year-old filmmaker continues to practice his craft with consistent artistic aplomb.
—Peter Travers, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2001
I am not consistent about giving vibrancy and other kinds of input to a relationship. … There are periods when I am the most attentive and thoughtful lover in the world, and periods, too, when I am just unavailable.
—Toni Cade Bambara, "A Conversation with Claudia Tate,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
One of the strengths of Blake's letters is their consistent readability …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
The rhythm of the gesture never varied. The paper flew in identically the same arc at each doorway, landed in identically the same spot. It was impossible for anybody to throw with such consistent perfection.
—Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time, (1962) 1976
He is a consistent supporter of the museum.
We need to be more consistent in handling this problem.
Customers expect that the quality of service they receive will be consistent.
The pain has been consistent.
Your grades have shown consistent improvement this school year.
Their descriptions of the accident were consistent.
The decision was consistent with the company's policy.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2001
I am not consistent about giving vibrancy and other kinds of input to a relationship. … There are periods when I am the most attentive and thoughtful lover in the world, and periods, too, when I am just unavailable.
—Toni Cade Bambara, "A Conversation with Claudia Tate,"
in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
One of the strengths of Blake's letters is their consistent readability …
—William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
The rhythm of the gesture never varied. The paper flew in identically the same arc at each doorway, landed in identically the same spot. It was impossible for anybody to throw with such consistent perfection.
—Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time, (1962) 1976
He is a consistent supporter of the museum.
We need to be more consistent in handling this problem.
Customers expect that the quality of service they receive will be consistent.
The pain has been consistent.
Your grades have shown consistent improvement this school year.
Their descriptions of the accident were consistent.
The decision was consistent with the company's policy.
Recent Examples on the Web
This winter, consistent cold has been hard to come by.
—Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
Analysts predict that the upcoming round of fourth-quarter earnings will show modest growth broadly in line with Q3, buoyed by the consistent strength of the equity market in the US, signs of stabilization in China and early gains from luxury’s recalibration.
—Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2026
Unlike skinny jeans, this style is fitted through the thigh and keeps a consistent width through the ankle, resulting in a tailoredlook.
—Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
JPMorgan sees India’s long-term investment story as firmly intact, underpinned by an expanding middle-income population, rising consumer demand, and a relatively stable government with consistent policy priorities supporting both urban and rural communities.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for consistent
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
Analysts predict that the upcoming round of fourth-quarter earnings will show modest growth broadly in line with Q3, buoyed by the consistent strength of the equity market in the US, signs of stabilization in China and early gains from luxury’s recalibration.
—Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2026
Unlike skinny jeans, this style is fitted through the thigh and keeps a consistent width through the ankle, resulting in a tailoredlook.
—Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
JPMorgan sees India’s long-term investment story as firmly intact, underpinned by an expanding middle-income population, rising consumer demand, and a relatively stable government with consistent policy priorities supporting both urban and rural communities.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for consistent
Cite this Entry
“Consistent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consistent. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
consistent
adjective
con·sis·tent
kən-ˈsis-tənt
1
: being in agreement or harmony
actions consistent with our policy
2
: being unchanging in behavior or beliefs
a consistent supporter
consistently
adverb
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