inconvenience
Americannoun
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the quality or state of being inconvenient.
-
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
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.
“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
Calder says he was told that the money would be refunded and that he had first-class seats on the new flights owing to the inconvenience.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026
The kind of setup where chopping an onion felt like a small but persistent inconvenience.
From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026
Everybody resents this inconvenience, and everyone becomes the ruler’s enemy; and these are enemies that can be harmful, since, although conquered, they remain in their own homes.
From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli
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.
