# inconsistent

/ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənt/ (US) · /ɪnkənsˈɪstənt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. changing often

adjective · CEFR B2

not staying the same in quality or behaviour; unpredictable.

For teachers: lacking a steady or uniform quality over time; erratic in performance or behaviour.

- The team lost the game because their defense was inconsistent throughout the season.
- The athlete's inconsistent performance during the qualifiers raised concerns about her ability to maintain focus under the pressure of the finals.

Usage: Often used to describe performance, quality, or human behaviour.

### 2. not matching

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

containing parts that do not agree with each other or with the facts.

For teachers: displaying a lack of logical harmony or agreement between different elements, statements, or findings.

- The witness gave an inconsistent account of what happened that night.
- The researcher noted that the new data was inconsistent with previous findings, suggesting a need for a complete revision of the theory.

Usage: Commonly followed by the preposition 'with'.

## Examples

- His work is good but his attendance is inconsistent.
- The witness gave an inconsistent account of the accident, changing several key details during the second interview.
- The experimental results remained inconsistent across multiple trials, suggesting that an external variable was interfering with the chemical reaction in ways the team had not yet identified.

---

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.