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

Two forensic accountants in Israel separately reviewed the records and concluded, despite those inconsistencies, the filings analyzed by CNN are Phoenix’s holdings. — Allegra Goodwin, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Capable of flashes of brilliance, but with maddening periods of inconsistency. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

In those interviews, there were clear inconsistencies between Randolph’s descriptions of what happened that night, and the physical evidence police gathered. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2026

Scott treats the tale of Gayle and Miss X as a rich and layered text, in which the inconsistencies are not lies to be triumphantly exposed but symbols to be recursively interpreted. — S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 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