consistent

American  

[kuhn-sis-tuhnt] / kənˈsɪs tənt /

adjective

1. agreeing or accordant; compatible; not self-contradictory.

   His views and actions are consistent.

   Synonyms:

   conformable, harmonious, consonant, congruous

2. constantly adhering to the same principles, course, form, etc..

   a consistent opponent.

3. holding firmly together; cohering.

4. Archaic. fixed; firm.

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consistent British  

/ kənˈsɪstənt /

adjective

1. showing consistency; not self-contradictory

2. in agreement or harmony; accordant

3. steady; even

   consistent growth

4. maths (of two or more equations) satisfied by at least one common set of values of the variables

   x + y = 4 and x – y = 2 are consistent

5. logic

   1. (of a set of statements) capable of all being true at the same time or under the same interpretation

   2. Also: sound. (of a formal system) not permitting the deduction of a contradiction from the axioms Compare complete

6. obsolete stuck together; cohering

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Other Word Forms

• quasi-consistent
  adjective
• consistently
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of consistent

First recorded in 1565–75, consistent is from the Latin word consistent- (stem of consistēns, present participle of consistere ); see consist, -ent

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Explanation

If you get the same Donkey Kong score every time you play, you're consistent. It's consistent with video-game addiction, however, that you will continue to play in the hopes of beating that score. Consistent is related to the word consist, which refers to what something is made of—"bread dough consists of flour, water, and salt." Consistency describes texture—a consistent consistency would be brownies as rock-hard in the center as they are at the edge––hopefully, next time you bake you'll get inconsistent results.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

consistent

But acknowledging a property’s cheesy elements isn’t the same as generating consistent laughs from the situation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

The study wasn’t focused on healthcare specifically, but it raises important questions about whether patients and doctors using different languages can reliably receive consistent information about diagnoses, treatment options, and medical risks.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

This patchwork distribution was consistent with scans taken while the patient was alive, which had already indicated that amyloid removal varied considerably across different parts of his brain.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026

America also needs clear, consistent rules that make recycling as easy as possible.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

Nor, more puzzlingly, did he gain any fame or even much attention from half a century of consistent and increasingly selfless achievement.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

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Related Words

• dependable
• logical
• persistent
• rational
• steady
• true

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