inconvenience
Americannoun
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the quality or state of being inconvenient.
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an inconvenient circumstance or thing; something that causes discomfort, trouble, etc.
verb (used with object)
noun
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the state or quality of being inconvenient
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something inconvenient; a hindrance, trouble, or difficulty
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have inconveniencedperfect
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has inconveniencedperfect 3rd person singular
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am inconveniencingprogressive 1st person singular
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have been inconveniencingperfect progressive
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are inconveniencingprogressive
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is inconveniencingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been inconveniencingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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inconveniencessingular 3rd person
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inconveniencingparticiple
Past
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had inconveniencedperfect
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had been inconveniencingperfect progressive
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was inconveniencingprogressive singular
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were inconveniencingprogressive plural
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inconveniencedparticiple
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inconveniencedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of inconvenience
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Late Latin word inconvenientia. See in- 3, convenience
Explanation
An inconvenience is an annoying occurrence that makes you go out of your way, like the inconvenience of a detour that takes you off your usual route, or the inconvenience of the door bell ringing just as you are about to take a dish out of the oven. The noun inconvenience, pronounced "in-cun-VEE-nyent," comes from the Latin word inconvenientia, from in-, meaning “not,” and convenient-, meaning “agreeing, fitting.” That meaning still holds true for inconvenience: something that doesn’t fit easily into your life, though it doesn't cause suffering, either. Use it to describe small irritations, like the inconvenience of an airport delay.
Vocabulary lists containing inconvenience
The Giver
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"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 26–31
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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While a transfer may be a slight inconvenience for usual commuters, it may cause large problems in mass events like the World Cup where risk of overcrowding and crush are at their highest.
From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026
For council teams who end up clearing the litter along busier roads, the danger is often mitigated by having to temporarily close routes – to the inconvenience of commuters.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
“We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and have apologized to the owner,” the spokesperson added.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
The airline said "we sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and have apologised to the owner".
From Barron's • May 1, 2026
Behind it whirred angry mice, angry at having to pick up mud, angry at inconvenience.
From "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
