discrepancy
C1formal
Definition
Meaning
A difference between two things that should be the same
An inconsistency, divergence, or failure to correspond, especially between facts, figures, or accounts that ought to match.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically refers to a quantitative or factual mismatch that requires investigation or reconciliation. Implies an error, oversight, or unexplained variance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/bureaucratic connotation in British English.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
discrepancy between X and Ydiscrepancy in Xdiscrepancy of XVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Mind the discrepancy”
- “A discrepancy of note”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Common in auditing, finance, and inventory control: 'The audit revealed a discrepancy in the quarterly figures.'
Academic
Used in research and data analysis: 'The study noted a discrepancy between the observed and predicted results.'
Everyday
Less common in casual conversation; used for official or detailed matters: 'There's a discrepancy between what he said and what the contract states.'
Technical
Used in computing, engineering, and science for mismatches in data, measurements, or processes.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The accounts discrep by nearly ten thousand pounds.
- The witness statements discrep on the key time.
American English
- The numbers discrep significantly.
- Their stories discrep on several points.
adverb
British English
- The results were discrepantly reported.
- They acted discrepantly from the guidelines.
American English
- The figures were recorded discrepantly.
- The systems performed discrepantly.
adjective
British English
- The discrepant figures require review.
- We found discrepant data in the two sets.
American English
- The discrepant accounts need reconciliation.
- There were discrepant versions of the event.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- There is a small discrepancy in the bill.
- We noticed a discrepancy between the two lists of names.
- Can you explain the discrepancy in your story?
- A significant discrepancy was found between the estimated and actual costs.
- The report aims to reconcile the discrepancy in the data from the two departments.
- The glaring discrepancy between the company's public statements and its internal memos raised ethical concerns.
- Scholars have long debated the cause of the chronological discrepancy in the historical records.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DISCREPancy sounds like 'DISCREP' (disagree) + 'ancy' (state). It's the state of facts disagreeing with each other.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACCOUNTING AS TRUTH-KEEPING (A discrepancy is a 'fault' in the ledger of reality).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from 'расхождение' in overly casual contexts.
- Do not confuse with 'difference' (разница) which is more general and neutral.
- Beware of false friend 'дискреция' (discretion) which is unrelated.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'discrepency' (misspelling).
- Using it for subjective opinions rather than factual mismatches.
- Overusing in informal contexts where 'difference' would suffice.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'discrepancy' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Difference' is a general, neutral term for any distinction. 'Discrepancy' implies an unexpected, often problematic inconsistency between things that should match or correspond, frequently requiring explanation.
It is generally negative or neutral-problematic. It points to a fault, error, or unexplained variance that is usually undesirable and needs correction.
It is less common and slightly awkward. It is best used for factual, measurable, or objective mismatches (data, accounts, statements). For opinions, 'disagreement' or 'divergence of views' is more natural.
The stress is on the second syllable: dis-CREP-an-cy. The first syllable sounds like 'dis', the 'crep' rhymes with 'step', and the ending is '-ən-see'. Avoid pronouncing it as 'dis-crep-an-see' with a hard 'a'.
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High-Level Idiomatic Expressions
C2 · 45 words · Sophisticated idiomatic and nuanced vocabulary.
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