Word
discrepancy
Phoneticsdis·crep·an·cy, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪsˈkɹɛpənsi/
UK/dɪskɹˈɛpənsi/
Españoldiscrepancia
Countable noun
Definition
n. a difference between two things that should be the same, which often suggests an error.
n. a lack of agreement or consistency between facts, figures, or claims. Often used in financial or investigative contexts to indicate a potential error or fraud.
Examples
“There is a discrepancy between the two bank statements.”
“The accountant noticed a significant discrepancy between the physical inventory on the shelves and the digital records in the system.”
“While the witness claimed to be at home, the discrepancy between his testimony and the timestamped security footage led the investigators to question his entire alibi.”
Examples
simple
“There is a discrepancy between the two bank statements.”
contextual
“The accountant noticed a significant discrepancy between the physical inventory on the shelves and the digital records in the system.”
complex
“While the witness claimed to be at home, the discrepancy between his testimony and the timestamped security footage led the investigators to question his entire alibi.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “discrepancy” in context.
Adjective
01. apparent discrepancy
“The auditor noted an apparent discrepancy between the bank statements and the internal ledger.”
adj + noun
Usage
Often used with the prepositions 'between' or 'in'.
Teaching tip
This is a high-frequency word in business and academic English. It is more formal than 'difference' and usually implies that something is wrong or needs explaining.
Real-World Examples
“Perhaps this explains the wild discrepancy between City Foden (17 major trophies) and England Foden (a goal on average every 18 months).” “The group did not immediately explain the discrepancy with the army’s account that the soldiers had been held since the April 25 attacks.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin discrepantia, from discrepans, from discrepō, from crepō. By surface analysis, discrepant + -cy. See also discrepant.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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- Formal, Academic
QR code
englishreference.com/q/discrepancy
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0