inconsistency.

A contradiction, mismatch or lack of uniformity in statements, actions or results.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• logical inconsistency
• inconsistency in findings

On the page

The reviewer found an inconsistency between the stated sampling rule and its actual application.

Variation alone was not an inconsistency when the procedure explicitly allowed different conditions.

Usage notes

Primary category: academic / formal. Forms: Singular inconsistency; plural inconsistencies. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: analysis, comparison, evaluation. Disciplines: academic writing, institutional studies. Commonness: common.