# discrepancy

/dɪsˈkɹɛpənsi/ (US) · /dɪskɹˈɛpənsi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/discrepancy
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. an inconsistency

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

a difference between two things that should be the same, which often suggests an error.

For teachers: 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.

- The accountant found a large discrepancy between the bank statement and the company records.
- The forensic audit revealed a significant discrepancy between the reported earnings and the actual cash flow, prompting a deeper investigation into the firm's practices.

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.

## 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.

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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.