consistency

American  

[kuhn-sis-tuhn-see] / kənˈsɪs tən si /

Also consistence

noun

• consistencies
  plural

1. a degree of density, firmness, viscosity, etc..

   The liquid has the consistency of cream.

2. steadfast adherence to the same principles, course, form, etc..

   There is consistency in his pattern of behavior.

3. agreement, harmony, or compatibility, especially correspondence or uniformity among the parts of a complex thing.

   consistency of colors throughout the house.

4. the condition of cohering or holding together and retaining form; solidity or firmness.

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consistency British  

/ kənˈsɪstənsɪ /

noun

1. agreement or accordance with facts, form, or characteristics previously shown or stated

2. agreement or harmony between parts of something complex; compatibility

3. degree of viscosity or firmness

4. the state or quality of holding or sticking together and retaining shape

5. conformity with previous attitudes, behaviour, practice, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• consistencies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of consistency

First recorded in 1585–95; consist(ent) + -ency

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Explanation

Foods like puddings and gravies need to be the correct consistency — that is, the right thickness or texture — for the dish. It would not be good, for example, for gravy to have the consistency of cottage cheese. The noun consistency also refers to uniformity or compatibility between things or parts. For example, you might need to check the consistency of spelling in a document or the consistency among eye-witness accounts of a crime. Consistency usually implies a positive sense of dependability. If you show consistency at the work place, your manager can depend on you.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

consistency consistencies

In her groups she said she encountered "desperate" parents navigating a "lack of appropriate and compassionate bereavement care" and a "huge lack of consistency" across health boards.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Your own inner dialogue is being played out with your wife, but it doesn’t have a great deal of consistency.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

With disorganized or “rogue” naming, “there’s no consistency and so you’re not building any equity,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Then I add my final stock, cream or coconut cream until the soup reaches the consistency I actually want.

From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026

For the rest of the season, Aimee worked with me to strengthen my performance on bars and to push my degree of difficulty and consistency in all my routines.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

Falafel and hummus, with varying recipes and consistencies, flow freely across countries of several faiths and backgrounds, while pizza bagels are a frozen food staple and challah French toast is seemingly everywhere.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

Mr Hedges is in favour of three members being elected in each of the 32 Westminster consistencies.

From BBC ● Jan. 30, 2024

The UF study demonstrates a need to build more consistencies among the varied experiments used to understand differences between those who speak one language and those who speak more than one.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 21, 2023

This results in an interesting, appealing juxtaposition of tastes, consistencies and temperatures.

From Salon ● Feb. 4, 2023

This is one of the consistencies resulting from the determination of the House not expressly to recognise the presence of strangers; but, after all, I am not aware that any practical inconvenience flows from it.

From Notes and Queries, Number 36, July 6, 1850 by Various

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Related Words

• coherence
• cohesion
• compatibility
• fitness
• harmony
• stability
• steadiness
• uniformity
• unity

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