inaccuracy
Americannoun
-
inaccuracies
plural
-
something inaccurate; error.
- Synonyms:
- inexactitude, slip, blunder, mistake
-
the quality or state of being inaccurate.
- Synonyms:
- inexactness, erroneousness, incorrectness
noun
-
lack of accuracy; imprecision
-
an error, a mistake, or a slip
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of inaccuracy
Explanation
Inaccuracy is the quality of having errors. A travel guide to Iowa's capital, Pearis, population 413, home of the Dallas Cowboys baseball team, would be plagued by inaccuracy. A typical book contains tens of thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands of words (the Harry Potter series has more than a million). Every single one has to be checked to prevent inaccuracy, so publishers employ production editors, copy editors, fact checkers, and proofreaders to verify spelling, grammar, sense, logic, truth, and arithmetic. In school, "check your work" means look for — and correct — any inaccuracy.
Vocabulary lists containing inaccuracy
Power Suffix: -acy
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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:
“Because of this purposeful inaccuracy, she will be reported to the FCC for rebuke or punishment.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026
It described the false announcement as a "very significant inaccuracy" on a matter of "very high public interest".
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
The regulator, which received two complaints about the broadcast, said the "very significant inaccuracy" and the "considerable length of time" taken to acknowledge the error breached two of its rules.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
“Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting, but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking time to reflect on the best path forward.”
From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2026
The descent of the weight is regulated by an escapement mechanism and, before the pendulum, it was the inaccuracy of this regulation that was the source of error.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Given the book included such basic inaccuracies, “how can we believe what he says now about King Charles?”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Ilagan has denied the allegations, and Lilley has said the report contained inaccuracies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
Exercise habits were self reported, which can introduce inaccuracies.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 12, 2026
The Palantir board recommended shareholders vote down the proposals, arguing they are “predicated on misunderstandings and inaccuracies about Palantir’s work.”
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
The committee was brusque, thorough, and relentless in rooting out inaccuracies, inconsistencies, incomprehensible statements, and illogical conclusions obscured by technical gibberish.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
