constancy

[ kon-stuhn-see ]

noun

1. the quality of being unchanging or unwavering, as in purpose, love, or loyalty; firmness of mind; faithfulness.

   Synonyms: devotion, loyalty, fealty, fidelity, resolution

   Antonyms: infidelity, irresolution

2. uniformity or regularity, as in qualities or conditions; invariableness.

   Synonyms: dependability, permanence

   Antonyms: variability

ˈconstancy

/ ˈkɒnstənsɪ /

noun

1. the quality of having a resolute mind, purpose, or affection; steadfastness
2. freedom from change or variation; stability
3. psychol the perceptual phenomenon in which attributes of an object appear to remain the same in a variety of different presentations, e.g., a given object looks roughly the same size regardless of its distance from the observer
4. ecology the frequency of occurrence of a particular species in sample plots from a plant community

Word History and Origins

Origin of constancy¹

From the Latin word constantia, dating back to 1520–30; constant, -ancy

Example Sentences

The former is addition by subtraction; the latter, addition by constancy.

From Seattle Times

This time around, there was no particularly huge boost at any given time but a constancy to the increased interest in “authentic.”

From Seattle Times

Building a community culture that offers a sense of constancy and support can have a powerful impact on a child’s education journey, says Ryan Quigtar, Renton Innovation Zone Partnership’s executive director.

From Seattle Times

With the ubiquity of Zoom meetings, FaceTime calls, selfies and the constancy of documenting our lives on social media, access to our own image can often feel inescapable.

From Scientific American

If the "Sex and the City" universe is a fantasia of materialist gloss tethered to reality by genuine truths, then the personifications of this idea should maintain a crumb of constancy.

From Salon

Related Words

• dependability
• perseverance
• steadfastness
• steadiness
• trustworthiness
• truthfulness