continuity

noun

con·​ti·​nu·​i·​ty ˌkän-tə-ˈnü-ə-tē 

-ˈnyü-

plural continuities

1

a

: uninterrupted connection, succession, or union

… its disregard of the continuity between means and ends …

—Sidney Hook

b

: uninterrupted duration or continuation especially without essential change

the continuity of the company's management

2

: something that has, exhibits, or provides continuity: such as

a

: a script or scenario in the performing arts

b

: transitional spoken or musical matter especially for a radio or television program

c

: the story and dialogue of a comic strip

3

: the property of being mathematically continuous

Synonyms

• abidance
• ceaselessness
• continuance
• continuation
• continuousness
• durability
• duration
• endurance
• persistence
• subsistence

Examples of continuity in a Sentence

The art historian is studying the continuities between the painter's works and those of her followers.

There's a problem with the movie's continuity.

Recent Examples on the Web

The continuity of the process is all the more noteworthy in that the date from one page to the next can sometimes jump a number of years. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2024

She was ultimately fired from the show after cutting her hair halfway through filming the season finale without telling anyone, throwing off the episode’s continuity. —Nick Romano, EW.com, 14 July 2024

The vote for the Democratic nominee, whether Biden or someone else, would mean not only continuity in policies but also a repudiation of fascism, violence, lawlessness, forced birth laws, climate change denial and the rest of the radical Project 2025, the MAGA governing agenda for a new Trump term. —Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post, 9 July 2024

Iran’s leaders have traditionally viewed high turnout as a sign of legitimacy — and that’s even more important now as the country tries to display continuity and stability in the wake of Raisi’s death. —Josh Lederman, NBC News, 28 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English continuite, borrowed from Anglo-French continuité, borrowed from Latin continuitāt-, continuitās, from continuus continuous + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

continuity

noun

con·​ti·​nu·​ity

ˌkänt-ᵊn-ˈ(y)ü-ət-ē

plural continuities

1

: the quality or state of being continuous

2

: something that has or provides continuity

Medical Definition

continuity

noun

con·​ti·​nu·​ity ˌkänt-ᵊn-ˈ(y)ü-ət-ē 

plural continuities

: uninterrupted connection, succession, or union