discontinuity

noun dis·con·ti·nu·ity \ (ˌ)dis-ˌkän-tə-ˈnü-ə-tē , -ˈnyü- \

Definition of discontinuity

1 :lack of continuity or cohesion

2 :gap 5

3 a :the property of being not mathematically continuous

a point of discontinuity

b :an instance of being not mathematically continuous; especially :a value of an independent variable at which a function is not continuous

See discontinuity defined for English-language learners

Examples of discontinuity in a Sentence

There is a sense of discontinuity between the book's chapters.
microscopic discontinuities in the connecting wires

Recent Examples of discontinuity from the Web

The author elects to tell the story in first person present tense, a choice that adds a choppy, staccato feel to things and also underlines some of the narrative discontinuities that creep into the text along the way.

— eli gottlieb, chicagotribune.com, "In 'Shtum,' parents wreck their home to find a better one for their autistic son.," 30 May 2017
The author elects to tell the story in first person present tense, a choice that adds a choppy, staccato feel to things and also underlines some of the narrative discontinuities that creep into the text along the way.

— eli gottlieb, chicagotribune.com, "In 'Shtum,' parents wreck their home to find a better one for their autistic son.," 30 May 2017
The author elects to tell the story in first person present tense, a choice that adds a choppy, staccato feel to things and also underlines some of the narrative discontinuities that creep into the text along the way.

— eli gottlieb, chicagotribune.com, "In 'Shtum,' parents wreck their home to find a better one for their autistic son.," 30 May 2017
The author elects to tell the story in first person present tense, a choice that adds a choppy, staccato feel to things and also underlines some of the narrative discontinuities that creep into the text along the way.

— eli gottlieb, chicagotribune.com, "In 'Shtum,' parents wreck their home to find a better one for their autistic son.," 30 May 2017
The author elects to tell the story in first person present tense, a choice that adds a choppy, staccato feel to things and also underlines some of the narrative discontinuities that creep into the text along the way.

— eli gottlieb, chicagotribune.com, "In 'Shtum,' parents wreck their home to find a better one for their autistic son.," 30 May 2017
The author elects to tell the story in first person present tense, a choice that adds a choppy, staccato feel to things and also underlines some of the narrative discontinuities that creep into the text along the way.

— special to the washington post, The Denver Post, "In “Shtum,” parents wreck their home to find a better one for their autistic son," 26 May 2017
The author elects to tell the story in first person present tense, a choice that adds a choppy, staccato feel to things and also underlines some of the narrative discontinuities that creep into the text along the way.

— special to the washington post, The Denver Post, "In “Shtum,” parents wreck their home to find a better one for their autistic son," 26 May 2017
The author elects to tell the story in first person present tense, a choice that adds a choppy, staccato feel to things and also underlines some of the narrative discontinuities that creep into the text along the way.

— special to the washington post, The Denver Post, "In “Shtum,” parents wreck their home to find a better one for their autistic son," 26 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'discontinuity.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of discontinuity

1570

discontinuity Synonyms

Synonyms

breach, break, gap, gulf, hiatus, hole, interstice, interval, opening, rent, rift, separation, void

Antonyms

continuation, continuity

Related Words

chink, cleft, crack, cranny, crevice, fissure; notch, slit, slot, split; interspace, pore; abyss, aperture, cavity, chasm, gape, orifice; fracture, rupture, severance, sundering

Near Antonyms

continuum, run, stretch; procession, progression

DISCONTINUITY Defined for English Language Learners

discontinuity

noun

Definition of discontinuity for English Language Learners

: the quality or state of not being continuous : lack of continuity
: a change or break in a process

Learn More about discontinuity

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for discontinuity Spanish Central: Translation of discontinuity Nglish: Translation of discontinuity for Spanish speakers

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discontinuity

Definition of discontinuity

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DISCONTINUITY Defined for English Language Learners

discontinuity

Definition of discontinuity for English Language Learners

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