incongruence

American  

[in-kong-groo-uhns, in-kuhn-groo-, -kuhng-] / ɪnˈkɒŋ gru əns, ˌɪn kənˈgru-, -kəŋ- /

noun

1. the state or condition of not being in agreement, accordance, or harmony, or the degree to which things are in this state.

   The incongruence in cultural values and norms between Americanized adolescents and their more traditional immigrant parents can lead to family conflict and adolescent behavior problems.

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Etymology

Origin of incongruence

First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin incongruentia, from Latin incongruent-, stem of incongruēns “inconsistent”; incongruent ( def. )

Example Sentences

A spokesperson for King's College London said the wellbeing and health of young people with gender incongruence and their families was its "priority".

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

Goldman bankers complained to senior management, pointing out the seeming incongruence of the revelations and Ruemmler’s role on the firm’s reputational risk committee, which is charged with deciding which clients the bank shouldn’t work with.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026

Living with the fear and other feelings that came with her sense of gender incongruence, Borrowman said, put strain on her relationships.

From Washington Times • May 28, 2022

Only once children are older, and if the incongruence between the sex assigned to them at birth and their experienced gender has persisted, does discussion of medical transition occur.

From Scientific American • May 12, 2022

The incongruence between thought and experience, therefore, will continue to subsist as long as the two pursue their course side by side; but it will be continually diminished.

From Popular scientific lectures by Mach, Ernst