intermittence

noun

in·​ter·​mit·​tence ˌin-tər-ˈmi-tən(t)s How to pronounce intermittence (audio)
: the quality or state of being intermittent

Examples of intermittence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web One model comes from France, where performers, technicians and other workers in theater, dance, movies and television can qualify for a special artists’ unemployment program, known as intermittence, which includes maternity leave, retirement and other benefits. New York Times, 13 Jan. 2021 Storage solves the intermittence problem associated with solar and wind, while transmission lines help link wind- or solar-abundant areas to population centers. Jinjoo Lee, WSJ, 9 Aug. 2022 Worse, perhaps, than being off for a block of time, is the intermittence that blended learning will oblige. David Zweig, Wired, 24 June 2020 There followed a good deal of halting, touchingly formal talk about harvests and the maddening intermittence of rain. Junot Díaz, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2018 Its apparent intermittence and the lack of a satisfactory explanation has led some to chalk it up to observer error, distortion caused by Earth’s atmosphere and/or artifacts induced by telescope optics. Wired Staff, WIRED, 9 Jan. 2009

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intermittence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of intermittence was in 1796

Dictionary Entries Near intermittence

Cite this Entry

“Intermittence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intermittence. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

intermittence

noun
in·​ter·​mit·​tence ˌint-ər-ˈmit-ᵊn(t)s How to pronounce intermittence (audio)
: the quality or state of being intermittent
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