# continuity

/ˌkɑntəˈnuəti/ (US) · /kɒntɪnjˈuːɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/continuity
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. uninterrupted state

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The company hired a new CEO to ensure the continuity of its long-term projects.
- The transition between the two administrations was managed carefully to maintain policy continuity and reassure international markets.

### 2. film/TV consistency

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- There was a continuity error in the scene where the actor's glass was suddenly full again.
- The script supervisor is responsible for monitoring continuity, ensuring that props and costumes remain identical across multiple takes filmed weeks apart.

### 3. storyline logic

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

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

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

- Fans complained when the new movie ignored the continuity of the original books.
- Maintaining narrative continuity becomes increasingly difficult for writers as a franchise expands into multiple spin-offs and prequels.

### 4. broadcasting

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Technical

the short announcements or ads shown between different television programmes.

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

- The continuity announcer told us what was coming up next on the channel.
- During the technical failure, the continuity department had to play emergency music until the live broadcast could be restored.

### 5. mathematics

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Technical

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

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

- The teacher explained the continuity of the curve on the graph.
- The theorem requires the assumption of continuity across the entire interval to prove that a solution exists.

## Examples

- The new manager ensures continuity in the company's daily operations.
- The script supervisor noticed a continuity error when the actor's tie changed color between the two camera angles.
- Maintaining political continuity during a leadership transition is essential for economic stability and the confidence of international investors.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.