discrepancy

IPA

Dictionary definition of discrepancy

A difference or inconsistency between two or more things that are supposed to be the same or similar.
"The discrepancy in the witness's statements led to doubts about their credibility."

Detailed meaning of discrepancy

A discrepancy can occur in various contexts, such as in numerical data, financial records, or verbal accounts. It can also refer to differences in opinions, beliefs, or expectations. A discrepancy may be discovered through a comparison of two or more sources of information, or it may be an internal inconsistency within a single source. Identifying a discrepancy is often the first step in resolving a problem or discrepancy in the information, and it may require further investigation or verification to determine the cause and correct the issue.

Example sentences containing discrepancy

1. The accountant noticed a discrepancy between the financial records and the bank statements.
2. The discrepancy in the test scores raised concerns about the fairness of the grading process.
3. There was a significant discrepancy between the eyewitness accounts of the incident.
4. The manager addressed the discrepancy in the employee's time logs by implementing a new tracking system.
5. The scientist double-checked the data when he noticed a discrepancy in the results of the experiment.
6. The detective focused on the discrepancy between the suspect's alibi and the video footage.

History and etymology of discrepancy

The noun 'discrepancy' has its origins in Latin. It is derived from the Latin word 'discrepantia,' which means 'disagreement' or 'difference.' This Latin term is formed from the verb 'discrepare,' which combines 'dis,' meaning 'apart,' and 'crepare,' meaning 'to sound' or 'to rattle.' Thus, 'discrepancy' etymologically signifies a discordant or rattling difference between two or more things that are expected to be in harmony or agreement. The term was adopted into English, maintaining its sense of describing inconsistencies or variations between elements that should align. The etymology of 'discrepancy' highlights the concept of discord or disharmony in the context of comparing and contrasting different elements, underscoring its role in identifying deviations from expected uniformity or consistency.

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Further usage examples of discrepancy

1. The customer complained about the discrepancy between the product description online and the actual item received.
2. The auditor was called in to investigate a discrepancy in the company's annual financial report.
3. The teacher reconciled the discrepancy in grades by re-evaluating the assignments.
4. The discrepancy in prices between different stores led her to research the best deals.
5. They resolved the discrepancy in their schedules by compromising on a meeting time.
6. The voters were concerned about the discrepancy between the politician’s promises and actions.
7. The discrepancy in the measurements was attributed to a fault in the equipment.
8. The shipping department addressed the discrepancy in inventory by conducting a thorough stock count.
9. The team worked together to understand the root cause of the discrepancy in the project’s budget and actual expenses.
10. The accountant identified a significant financial discrepancy.
11. There's a discrepancy between your account balance and the statement.
12. A discrepancy in the witness testimonies raised doubts.
13. The discrepancy in their stories raised suspicions.
14. A discrepancy in the data led to a revised analysis.
15. We need to reconcile the discrepancy in the inventory records.
16. The discrepancy between theory and practice was evident.
17. Investigating the discrepancy revealed a clerical error.
18. The survey uncovered a surprising gender pay gap discrepancy.
19. The report highlighted a discrepancy in employee satisfaction.
20. Addressing the discrepancy in salaries is a priority.
21. The discrepancy between the maps confused travelers.
22. A discrepancy in the scientific findings required further study.
23. The auditor found a significant tax discrepancy.
24. The discrepancy in the test results puzzled researchers.