English Reference
noun

inconsistency

n.
US /ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənsi/ UK /ɪnkənsˈɪstənsi/ in·con·sis·ten·cy UK spelling inconsistencies, inconsistency's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    a difference between two statements or facts that should be the same.

    the state of being self-contradictory or the lack of logical agreement between two or more facts or claims.

    Simple

    The lawyer pointed out an inconsistency between the witness's two stories.

    In context

    The audit revealed a significant inconsistency between the reported earnings and the actual cash flow recorded in the bank statements.

    Usage

    Often used with the preposition 'between' or 'in'.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the quality of not staying the same in behavior or quality.

    the quality of failing to maintain a uniform standard or a predictable pattern of behavior.

    Simple

    The team lost the game because of the inconsistency of their star player.

    In context

    Critics complained about the inconsistency of the director's work, noting that his brilliant debut was followed by several mediocre films.

    Usage

    Commonly used to describe performance, quality, or human character.

    unreliabilityvariabilityinstability

Usage inconsistencies in statements

Inconsistency was nearly their downfall last season; they won the most games in WSL2, but also lost six times.

The Guardian· 23 Aug 2026

Such inconsistency can create confusion for parents and make it difficult to know what's considered safe and appropriate.

Phys.org· 17 Aug 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated