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

• consistently adverb
• quasi-consistent adjective

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

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

The estimated $400-million sponsorship cost is consistent with the scale of the event, Fort said, adding that it represents a “negligible” amount for such a deep-pocketed company.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

The people said that while LIV has grown the sport globally, the operation was no longer consistent with the new phase of PIF’s investment strategy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026

This approach could make it easier to study topics like consciousness, memory, and mental health on a larger and more consistent scale.

From Science Daily • Apr. 28, 2026

Smaller producers benefit from participating in a less volatile crude market that allows them to enjoy a more consistent revenue stream.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

Nor is it a new thing for man to invent an existence that he imagines to be above the rest of life; this has been his most consistent intellectual exertion down the millennia.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

Related Words

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