inconsistency

noun

in·​con·​sis·​ten·​cy ˌin-kən-ˈsi-stən(t)-sē 

1

: an instance of being inconsistent

2

: the quality or state of being inconsistent

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

Detection is the biggest hurdle A significant factor in the inconsistency from state to state is that there is no standardized way to measure drug impairment as there is with blood alcohol content. —Andrew Yockey, The Conversation, 11 Sep. 2025

After decades of local inconsistencies in which some cities observed DST, and some didn’t, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act of 1966. —Doug Melville, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Gabriel Arias followed, with flashes of wizardry in the field and opposite-field power that makes scouts salivate, but with inconsistency that makes scouts gray. —Zack Meisel, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025

Cruz had his worst outing of the year, but the overall inconsistencies with the bullpen are concerning. —Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025

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