discrepancy
Americannoun
-
the state or quality of being discrepant or in disagreement, as by displaying an unexpected or unacceptable difference; inconsistency.
The discrepancy between the evidence and his account of what happened led to his arrest.
- Synonyms:
- variance, contrariety, discordance, disagreement, incongruity
-
an instance of difference or inconsistency.
There are certain discrepancies between the two versions of the story.
- Synonyms:
- variation
noun
Usage
Discrepancy is sometimes wrongly used where disparity is meant. A discrepancy exists between things which ought to be the same; it can be small but is usually significant. A disparity is a large difference between measurable things such as age, rank, or wages
Synonym Usage
See difference.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of discrepancy
First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin discrepantia, from discrepant- (stem of discrepāns “sounding discordant”; see discrepant) + -ia -y 3 ( def. )
Explanation
A discrepancy is a lack of agreement or balance. If there is a discrepancy between the money you earned and the number on your paycheck, you should complain to your boss. There is a discrepancy when there is a difference between two things that should be alike. For example, there can be a wide discrepancy or a slight discrepancy between two objects, stories, or facts. The noun discrepancy is from Latin discrepare "to sound differently," from the prefix dis- "from" plus crepare "to rattle, creak."
Vocabulary lists containing discrepancy
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 1
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ACT Vocabulary List
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Unbroken
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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.
A timing discrepancy identified by official timekeeper Brad William also did not meet the commission's threshold to overturn the referee's discretionary decision.
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026
That discrepancy suggests that additional processes may be influencing the atmosphere.
From Science Daily • Jun. 11, 2026
Credit Lauri Myllyvirta of the nonprofit Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air for spotting this discrepancy and sleuthing out its cause.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026
To address the glaring discrepancy, the league established the “Rooney rule” in 2003, requiring teams to interview at least two minority candidates for head coach and other senior management vacancies.
From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026
Beside me Regan raised her hand again, and I ground my teeth into my lip as she spotted the discrepancy in the professor’s hairstyle.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
