unreliability.

A lack of consistent dependability or trustworthiness in the relevant performance or account.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• narrative unreliability
• unreliability of memory

On the page

Narrative unreliability emerged through discrepancies the teller did not appear to notice.

The unreliability of memory required comparison with records made closer to the event.

Usage notes

Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: Usually uncountable. 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: description, narrative analysis, characterization, contrast. Disciplines: literary analysis, prose writing, advanced general English. Commonness: moderately common.