# inconvenience

/ˌɪnkənˈvinjəns/ (US) · /ɪnkənvˈiːnɪəns/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a minor problem

noun · CEFR B2

a small problem or trouble that makes something more difficult for you.

For teachers: a state or instance of trouble, difficulty, or discomfort. Often used in formal apologies for service disruptions.

- The road repairs are a big inconvenience for people driving to work.
- The sudden cancellation of the train caused considerable inconvenience to the commuters who had already purchased non-refundable tickets.

Usage: Commonly used as an uncountable noun for the general state of trouble, or a countable noun for a specific event.

### 2. to cause trouble

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to cause someone a small problem or to make them do extra work.

For teachers: to cause trouble, discomfort, or extra work for someone. Transitive; typically used in polite or formal contexts.

- I hope it doesn't inconvenience you if we move the meeting to tomorrow.
- The manager apologised profusely for having to inconvenience the guests by moving them to a different wing of the hotel during the renovation.

Usage: Takes a direct object, usually a person or a group of people.

## Examples

- We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the delay.
- The temporary closure of the main road was a major inconvenience for local commuters during rush hour.
- While the software update was intended to improve security, the resulting system downtime proved to be a significant inconvenience for the global sales team.

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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.