discrepancy

[dih-skrep-uhn-see]

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noun, plural dis·crep·an·cies for 2.

the state or quality of being discrepant or in disagreement, as by displaying an unexpected or unacceptable difference; inconsistency: The discrepancy between the evidence and his account of what happened led to his arrest.
an instance of difference or inconsistency: There are certain discrepancies between the two versions of the story.

Also dis·crep·ance.

Origin of discrepancy

1615–25; < Latin discrepantia, equivalent to discrepant- (see discrepant) + -ia; see -ancy

Synonyms for discrepancy

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1. incongruity, disagreement, discordance, contrariety, variance. 2. variation.

Synonym study

1. See difference.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for discrepancy

divergence, variation, disparity, miscalculation, error, distinction, difference, inconsistency, discordance, dissonance, incongruity, divergency, split, contrariety, variance, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, otherness, dissemblance

Examples from the Web for discrepancy

Contemporary Examples of discrepancy

"The discrepancy may have been that we really don't see black or white among our colleagues," Zoll said.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: August 17
PunditFact.com
August 17, 2014
By no means does this discrepancy indicate that Barnard is necessarily safer for women.
No Rapes On Campus? No Way.
Emily Shire
July 5, 2014
But there is a discrepancy in the way masturbation is discussed in regards to men and women.
C’mon, Ladies, Masturbation Isn’t Just for Bad Girls
Emily Shire
June 19, 2014
He claims in his complaint that the agency never clarified the discrepancy nor did it pay Shanklin the $35,000.
How Models Get Robbed on the Runway
Jennifer Sky
May 7, 2014
The discrepancy in these figures is not for lack of fighting.
The Medal of Honor Disgrace
Brian Van Reet
March 26, 2014

Historical Examples of discrepancy

Still, the size of a discrepancy does not make any difference.
A Woman Intervenes
Robert Barr
The discrepancy of dates is based on the difference of the two calendars.
Christopher Columbus and His Monument Columbia
Various
She seemed quite unaware of the discrepancy, but he was aware of it.
The Portygee
Joseph Crosby Lincoln
There was too great a discrepancy between his knowledge of the situation and its appearance.
Death Wish
Robert Sheckley
In no other State is the discrepancy so great in the salary of men and women teachers.
The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV
Various

British Dictionary definitions for discrepancy

discrepancy

noun plural -cies

a conflict or variation, as between facts, figures, or claims

usage

Discrepancy is sometimes wrongly used where disparity is meant. A discrepancy exists between things which ought to be the same; it can be small but is usually significant. A disparity is a large difference between measurable things such as age, rank, or wages

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for discrepancy

mid-15c. (discrepance), from Latin discrepantia "discordance, discrepancy," from discrepantem (nominative discrepans), present participle of discrepare "sound differently, differ," from dis- "apart, off" (see dis-) + crepare "to rattle, crack." Related: Discrepancies.