incongruity

UK: /ˌɪnkənˈgruːɪti/

US: /ˌɪnkənˈgruɪti/

US: (in′kən gro̅o̅′i tē, -kəng-)

Inflections of 'incongruity' (n): npl: incongruities

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•con•gru•i•ty  (in′kən gro̅o̅′i tē, -kəng-), n., pl. -ties for 2.

1. the quality or condition of being incongruous.
2. something incongruous.

• Late Latin incongruitās. See in-³, congruity
• 1525–35

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•con•gru•ous /ɪnˈkɑŋgruəs/   adj. 

1. out of place; inappropriate.
2. not harmonious in character.
3. inconsistent:
   an incongruous alibi.

in•con•gru•i•ty /ˌɪnkənˈgruɪti/  n. 

[uncountable] the incongruity of meeting my neighbor on Mt. Kilimanjaro.

[countable] incongruities among the students.

in•con•gru•ous•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•con•gru•ous  (in kong′gro̅o̅ əs), adj. 

1. out of keeping or place;
   inappropriate;
   unbecoming:
   an incongruous effect; incongruous behavior.
2. not harmonious in character;
   inconsonant;
   lacking harmony of parts:
   an incongruous mixture of architectural styles.
3. inconsistent:
   actions that were incongruous with their professed principles.

• Latin incongruus inconsistent. See in-³, congruous
• 1605–15

in•con′gru•ous•ly, adv. 
in•con′gru•ous•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. discrepant, unsuitable, ridiculous, ludicrous, absurd.
• 2. inharmonious, discordant.
• 3. contrary, contradictory. See inconsistent. 

Antonyms

• 1. becoming, appropriate.
• 2. consonant.
• 3. consistent.