discontinuity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “discontinuity” mean?
A break, gap, or interruption in a sequence, process, or structure.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A break, gap, or interruption in a sequence, process, or structure.
The property of not being continuous; an instance where something changes abruptly without a smooth transition. Can also refer to a lack of logical connection in thought or argument, or a point in a geological sequence where layers are missing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Usage is consistent across both varieties, concentrated in academic/technical domains.
Connotations
Neutral in both, denoting an observable fact or property. Can carry negative connotations in contexts where continuity is expected or desired (e.g., government policy).
Frequency
Similar low-to-medium frequency in formal/academic contexts. Rare in casual speech in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “discontinuity” in a Sentence
discontinuity in [something]discontinuity between [X] and [Y]discontinuity of [something]discontinuity at [a point/level]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “discontinuity” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The strata are disconformable, indicating the area discontinued deposition for a period.
- The service will discontinue next month.
American English
- The manufacturer discontinued that product line last year.
- He decided to discontinue his subscription.
adverb
British English
- The signal was transmitted discontinuously, leading to data loss.
- He worked on the project discontinuously over several years.
American English
- The events occurred discontinuously, with long gaps in between.
- Funding was provided discontinuously, making planning difficult.
adjective
British English
- The data showed a discontinuous pattern, with several sharp drops.
- His career path has been rather discontinuous.
American English
- We observed discontinuous growth in the sample.
- The film uses discontinuous editing to create a jarring effect.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports to describe a break in market trends, management strategy, or supply chains. 'The merger caused a significant discontinuity in our corporate culture.'
Academic
Common in mathematics (a point where a function is not continuous), history (periods of abrupt change), sociology, and literary theory. 'The paper examines the epistemological discontinuity between the two scientific paradigms.'
Everyday
Rare. Might be used to describe a jarring break in a film or story, or an inconsistency in someone's behaviour. 'There's a real discontinuity between what he promises and what he does.'
Technical
Core term in geology (e.g., unconformity), physics (phase transitions), and engineering (signal processing). 'The Mohorovičić discontinuity separates the Earth's crust from the mantle.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “discontinuity”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “discontinuity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “discontinuity”
- Using 'discontinuity' to mean a temporary stop (better: 'pause', 'interruption').
- Treating it as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'there was much discontinuity'). It is usually countable: 'there were several discontinuities'.
- Confusing spelling: 'discontiniuty' (misspelling).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a mid-to-high frequency word primarily used in formal, academic, scientific, and technical contexts. It is rare in everyday conversation.
A 'pause' is a temporary stop, often with an expectation of resumption. A 'discontinuity' implies a more fundamental break or gap, often without an assumption that the previous state will resume in the same way.
No. The verb form is 'discontinue'. 'Discontinuity' is only a noun.
In geology and geophysics, it is a boundary within the Earth across which seismic wave velocities change abruptly, indicating a change in the material composition or phase (e.g., the Moho discontinuity).
A break, gap, or interruption in a sequence, process, or structure.
Discontinuity is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Discontinuity: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɪskɒntɪˈnjuːɪti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɪskɑːntəˈnuːəti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A line of discontinuity”
- “(No common idioms; the term itself is technical/formal)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DISCO where the music suddenly STOPS. The lack of continuity in the sound is a DISCONTINUITY.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTINUITY IS A LINE/CONNECTION; DISCONTINUITY IS A BREAK/CUT/ABSENCE.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts would 'discontinuity' be LEAST appropriate?