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Definition of inconsistent adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

inconsistent

adjective
 
/ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənt/
 
/ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənt/
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  1. [not usually before noun] inconsistent (with something) if two statements, etc. are inconsistent, or one is inconsistent with the other, they cannot both be true because they give the facts in a different way
    • The report is inconsistent with the financial statements.
    • The witnesses' statements were inconsistent.
    Extra Examples
    • His statement was inconsistent with other accounts of the events.
    • The two accounts are mutually inconsistent.
    • Her argument is internally inconsistent.
    Topics Opinion and argumentc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • appear
    • be
    • seem
    adverb
    • highly
    • very
    • wildly
    preposition
    • in
    • with
    See full entry
  2. inconsistent with something not matching a set of standards, ideas, etc.
    • Her behaviour was clearly inconsistent with her beliefs.
    Topics Opinion and argumentc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • appear
    • be
    • seem
    adverb
    • highly
    • very
    • wildly
    preposition
    • in
    • with
    See full entry
  3. (disapproving) tending to change too often; not staying the same
    • inconsistent results
    • Children find it difficult if a parent is inconsistent.
    opposite consistent
    Extra Examples
    • The company is inconsistent in the way it disciplines staff.
    • The team's offense has been maddeningly inconsistent.
    • The tests gave inconsistent results.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • appear
    • be
    • seem
    adverb
    • highly
    • very
    • wildly
    preposition
    • in
    • with
    See full entry
See inconsistent in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee inconsistent in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
sufficiently
adverb
 
 
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