Consistent Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms consistent American [kuhn-sis-tuhnt] / kənˈsɪs tənt /

adjective

1. agreeing or accordant; compatible; not self-contradictory.

   His views and actions are consistent.

   Synonyms: conformable, harmonious, consonant, congruous

2. constantly adhering to the same principles, course, form, etc..

   a consistent opponent.

3. holding firmly together; cohering.

4. Archaic. fixed; firm.

consistent British / kənˈsɪstənt /

adjective

1. showing consistency; not self-contradictory

2. in agreement or harmony; accordant

3. steady; even

   consistent growth

4. maths (of two or more equations) satisfied by at least one common set of values of the variables

   x + y = 4 and x – y = 2 are consistent

5. logic

   1. (of a set of statements) capable of all being true at the same time or under the same interpretation

   2. Also: sound. (of a formal system) not permitting the deduction of a contradiction from the axioms Compare complete

6. obsolete stuck together; cohering

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• consistently adverb
• quasi-consistent adjective

Etymology

Origin of consistent

First recorded in 1565–75, consistent is from the Latin word consistent- (stem of consistēns, present participle of consistere ); consist, -ent

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.

As consistent as the players have to be, everything can go south in a single frame.

From The Wall Street Journal

The goal now, Rolapp said, is to create an upper echelon by doubling the number of signature events, which will feature a consistent format: around 120 players and a cut.

From The Wall Street Journal

These sightings remain very rare, but they show a consistent pattern over time.

From Science Daily

“A period of this length with little or no air activity, while maritime activity remains consistent, is highly unusual,” said Ben Lewis, whose research organization, PLATracker, documents Chinese military activity.

From The Wall Street Journal

This account is consistent with testimony given in 2010 to a court in Florida by a former accountant at MC2 in the US - Brunel's model agency - and cited in the Epstein files.

From BBC

Related Words

• dependable
• logical
• persistent
• rational
• steady
• true

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.