inconsistency

IPA/ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənsi/
KK[ˌɪnkənsˈɪstənsi]IPA/ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənsi/

inconsistency — 名詞

  • inconsistencysingular
  • inconsistenciesplural

1. when facts, ideas, or statements do not match each other, so that it is impossib

1.名詞B2
釋義

矛盾

想法或陳述互相牴觸的情形

when facts, ideas, or statements do not match each other, so that it is impossible for all of them to be correct at once

例句

Aoi noticed an inconsistency between the witness's two statements about the time of the accident.

Aoi 注意到證人的兩份陳述在事發時間上有所矛盾。

inconsistency between [X] and [Y]

There were several inconsistencies in Gabriel's report that the manager asked him to fix.

Gabriel 的報告中有好幾處不一致的地方，經理請他修正。

inconsistencies in [report/data]

同義詞
  • contradiction

    stronger and more absolute — a direct opposition, not just a lack of agreement

  • discrepancy

    more neutral and often used for measurable differences in numbers or amounts

  • conflict

    suggests active opposition or incompatibility, often between interests or duties

反義詞
  • consistency

    the opposite quality — when things match or stay the same

文法句型

inconsistency between [plural nouns]

inconsistency in [noun phrase]

用法筆記

Frequently followed by 'between' when comparing two things, or 'in' when locating the disagreement within something. Countable when referring to a specific instance (several inconsistencies), uncountable when describing the general quality (there was inconsistency in the data).

常見錯誤

❌There is an inconsistency among the two reports.
✅There is an inconsistency between the two reports.
💡use 'between' for two items, not 'among'.

2. the tendency of a person or thing to change in behaviour, performance, or qualit

2.名詞B2
釋義

反覆無常

行為或品質不穩定的特性

the tendency of a person or thing to change in behaviour, performance, or quality, making it difficult to rely on them

例句

Heloísa stopped buying from that brand because of the inconsistency in product quality.

Heloísa 因為產品品質不穩定，不再買那個品牌了。

inconsistency in [quality/performance]

The team's inconsistency on the field frustrated the coach and disappointed the fans.

球隊在場上表現反覆無常，讓教練沮喪，也讓球迷失望。

同義詞
  • unpredictability

    more general — can describe anything uncertain; inconsistency implies a negative pattern of change

  • unreliability

    focuses on the result of being untrustworthy rather than the changing behaviour itself

  • variability

    more neutral — describes natural or expected change, not necessarily a flaw

反義詞
  • consistency

    the quality of staying the same in a dependable way

  • dependability

    the quality of being trustworthy and reliable over time

文法句型

inconsistency of [noun phrase]

inconsistency in [noun phrase]

用法筆記

Only uncountable in this sense — you cannot say 'an inconsistency' to mean a moment of unpredictable behaviour. This sense is used with people's behaviour, performance, or the quality of a process or product.

常見錯誤

❌The player showed an inconsistency during the match.' (treating it as countable)
✅The player showed inconsistency during the match.
💡this sense is always uncountable.