inconvenience
Americannoun
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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:
"The welfare of our customers is our highest priority and we are very sorry for the inconvenience caused."
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
You have to realize: Being arrested isn’t just about the inconvenience of being incarcerated — it’s that now you’re in the system.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 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
"We expect this to cause inconvenience for some passengers, and we sincerely apologise for this. Those due to travel today, should still arrive at the airport in line with Airline advice."
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Owen had been a little kid back then, so it hadn’t been much more than an inconvenience to him.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
To avoid our planet’s environmental inconveniences, the stilts can rise above any inclement weather.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 30, 2026
Small inconveniences you overlook on vacation can become major issues when they are part of your daily life.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 29, 2025
"Although, yes, there are inconveniences, the majority of the population is ready for this," he insisted.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2025
"In this study, we're talking about daily stressors, the minor inconveniences that occur throughout the day, but there's also chronic stress where people are continually impacted by stressors again and again," Witzel said.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2025
“It appears to me one of those questions which present great inconveniences whichever way it is decided,” he wrote his new son-in-law.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
To be Austin at a World Cup match is to rarely be inconvenienced.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026
However, some ways of being inconvenienced are more draining than others.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 19, 2026
Stellantis said it was "inevitable" that customers would be inconvenienced.
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2025
“A lot of people are going to be inconvenienced with this closure,” said Caltrans spokeperson Eric Mejivar.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2024
I flew to Myrtle Beach and found her as I had always known her: fully in control and careful that I not be inconvenienced by my father, even in death.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
"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
The NFL is cautious about inconveniencing 75,000 fans for a relatively small bump in viewership.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 20, 2025
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
Aside from inconveniencing other moviegoers as they shuffle past, stepping on toes and grabbing seatbacks after the lights have gone down, they’re missing every single trailer for an upcoming attraction.
From Salon ● May 22, 2025
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.
