discontinuous

adjective

dis·​con·​tin·​u·​ous ˌdis-kən-ˈtin-yə-wəs 

-yü-əs

1

a(1)

: not continuous

a discontinuous series of events

(2)

: not continued : discrete

discontinuous features of terrain

b

: lacking sequence or coherence

2

: having one or more mathematical discontinuities

—used of a variable or a function

discontinuously adverb

Synonyms

• sporadic
• intermittent
• occasional
• sudden

Examples of discontinuous in a Sentence

a discontinuous series of events

the novel captures the discontinuous nature of a soldier's life: long stretches of boredom interrupted by flashes of action

Recent Examples on the Web

Spread in thin, discontinuous bands across a few miles of terrain, the ancient material is a challenge to identify and even harder to access. —Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2025

The city of almost 52,000, carved into discontinuous clumps by unincorporated land, straddles the Denton-Collin county line. ▪ Anna, also in Collin, is a 30 minute drive east of Celina. —Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2025

Italy’s network also supports a new sleep mode, called extended discontinuous reception, that can lengthen a device’s battery life. —IEEE Spectrum, 20 Dec. 2017

Current law, however, is discontinuous. —Felix Salmon, Axios, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Rhymes for discontinuous

• continuous
• semicontinuous

Kids Definition

discontinuous

adjective

dis·​con·​tin·​u·​ous ˌdis-kən-ˈtin-yə-wəs 

: not continuous : having interruptions or gaps : broken

discontinuous sleep

discontinuity

(ˌ)dis-ˌkänt-ᵊn-ˈ(y)ü-ət-ē

noun

discontinuously

ˌdis-kən-ˈtin-yə-wəs-lē

adverb