inexactitude

[in-ig-zak-ti-tood, -tyood]

noun

1. the quality or state of being inexact or inaccurate; inexactness.

2. an instance of this.

Word History and Origins

Origin of inexactitude¹

From French, dating back to 1780–90; in- ³, exactitude

Example Sentences

I was taught at Cambridge University that though one could not say something such as “Mr. so-and-so is a liar,” it was permissible to say, “the Right Honorable so-and-so is guilty of a ‘terminological inexactitude.’”

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It contains the code of information that allows it to replicate, and does so with enough inexactitude to allow natural selection to work its wonders.

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The OAS fired back, saying the researchers’ analysis contained “countless falsehoods, inexactitudes and omissions.”

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The dragon, the griffin, the unicorn, the phoenix, the centaur—these and more are represented in Muggle works of that period, though usually with almost comical inexactitude.

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Given this level of inexactitude, court findings are imprecise, sometimes criticized for findings of guilt or innocence.

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