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REFERENCE

continuity

n.
US //ˌkɑntəˈnuəti// UK //kɒntɪnjˈuːɪti// con·ti·nu·ity
  1. 1 uninterrupted state (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the state of continuing for a long time without being stopped or changed.

    the quality of being continuous in space or time; the maintenance of a steady, uninterrupted state.

    Example

    The company hired a new CEO to ensure the continuity of its long-term projects.

    Example

    The transition between the two administrations was managed carefully to maintain policy continuity and reassure international markets.
  2. 2 film/TV consistency (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Theatre

    making sure that details like clothes and hair stay the same between different shots in a movie.

    the maintenance of consistency between different shots in a film or television production to avoid logical or visual errors.

    Example

    There was a continuity error in the scene where the actor's glass was suddenly full again.

    Example

    The script supervisor is responsible for monitoring continuity, ensuring that props and costumes remain identical across multiple takes filmed weeks apart.
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  1. 3 storyline logic (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    the history and rules of a story world that writers must follow in sequels or new episodes.

    the internal logic and established history of a fictional universe, especially in episodic or serialised media.

    Example

    Fans complained when the new movie ignored the continuity of the original books.

    Example

    Maintaining narrative continuity becomes increasingly difficult for writers as a franchise expands into multiple spin-offs and prequels.
  2. 4 broadcasting (n.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Technical

    the short announcements or ads shown between different television programmes.

    the announcements, advertisements, and promotional material inserted by a broadcaster between scheduled programmes.

    Example

    The continuity announcer told us what was coming up next on the channel.

    Example

    During the technical failure, the continuity department had to play emergency music until the live broadcast could be restored.
  3. 5 mathematics (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Technical Math

    a property of a line or function that has no breaks or jumps.

    the property of a function such that a small change in the input results in a small change in the output, without abrupt jumps.

    Example

    The teacher explained the continuity of the curve on the graph.

    Example

    The theorem requires the assumption of continuity across the entire interval to prove that a solution exists.
    • discontinuity
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French continuité, from Latin continuitas. By surface analysis, continu(e) + -ity.

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