inconvenience
Americannoun
-
inconveniences
plural
-
the quality or state of being inconvenient.
-
an inconvenient circumstance or thing; something that causes discomfort, trouble, etc.
verb (used with object)
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inconveniences,
present (3rd person singular)
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inconvenienced,
past participle, past
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inconveniencing
present participle
noun
-
the state or quality of being inconvenient
-
something inconvenient; a hindrance, trouble, or difficulty
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
inconveniencesimple
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inconveniencessimple
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have inconveniencedperfect
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has inconveniencedperfect
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am inconveniencingprogressive
-
are inconveniencingprogressive
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is inconveniencingprogressive
-
have been inconveniencingperfect progressive
-
has been inconveniencingperfect progressive
Past
-
inconveniencedsimple
-
had inconveniencedperfect
-
was inconveniencingprogressive
-
were inconveniencingprogressive
-
had been inconveniencingperfect progressive
Future
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.
See Examples For:
While the inconvenience and brutality has certainly kept us angry and alert, there’s little proof it has made us safer.
From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026
As the saying goes, the cost of community is inconvenience.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
Chessington apologised for the inconvenience and thanked visitors for their understanding.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Destination Crenshaw was supposed to transform 1.3 miles of Crenshaw Boulevard along Metro’s K Line into an art-filled gathering space, but according to some neighbors, the project has become an inconvenience and eyesore.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 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
In a press conference before landing, Christina Koch said the inconveniences, such as freeze-dried food or a toilet without much privacy, were worth it.
From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026
Meanwhile, wide adoption has brought new inconveniences, as even power users feel awkward talking to their laptops.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 29, 2026
As federal judges, we recognize that certain risks and inconveniences accompany a position of public trust like ours.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 11, 2026
Small inconveniences you overlook on vacation can become major issues when they are part of your daily life.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 29, 2025
For between him and his ship were more than a few inconveniences.
From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman
To be Austin at a World Cup match is to rarely be inconvenienced.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
In both cases, an individual is inconvenienced to improve the overall environment, making it healthier for everyone.
From Salon ● May 1, 2026
However, some ways of being inconvenienced are more draining than others.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 19, 2026
Gray calls this attitude part of “conspicuous resilience,” conflating being temporarily displaced and inconvenienced with being oppressed and vulnerable, leading to the celebration and glorification of a recovery that mostly benefits the few.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2025
It may have inconvenienced some charging bellowing officials but for us it made of Washington the most beautiful city in the world, a quiet place.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
"I hope it's a beautiful wedding...but I think they should do it somewhere that's less inconveniencing to general populace of New York City," she laughed.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
She later apologized to her security detail, secretaries and driver for inconveniencing them by starting at such an early hour.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 24, 2025
On Saturday morning, in a two-minute address to the nation, Yoon apologized for inconveniencing the public and said that he had been motivated by “desperation.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 7, 2024
There is no way to get rid of the rats without inconveniencing people.
From Slate ● Apr. 17, 2023
I am sorry that all this time I had no idea of the extent to which they were inconveniencing you.'
From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro
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.
