inconveniency
rareformal/archaic
Definition
Meaning
The state or fact of being inconvenient; something that causes trouble or difficulty.
A minor annoyance or disruption; an instance of being inconvenient, often in a formal or historical context.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Inconveniency is an older or more formal variant of 'inconvenience'. It is rarely used in modern English, where 'inconvenience' is the standard term.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both British and American English prefer 'inconvenience'. 'Inconveniency' is archaic and rarely used in either variety, with no significant dialectal variation.
Connotations
May sound old-fashioned, overly formal, or literary.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects; considered obsolete in contemporary usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
cause an inconveniencysuffer from an inconveniencyput to inconveniencyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used; 'inconvenience' is standard in business communications.
Academic
Might appear in historical or literary texts; otherwise avoided in modern academic writing.
Everyday
Almost never used in everyday conversation; 'inconvenience' is preferred.
Technical
Not typical in technical contexts; standard terms like 'disruption' or 'hindrance' are more common.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I hope this delay doesn't inconvenience you.
American English
- Sorry to inconvenience you with this request.
adverb
British English
- He arrived inconveniently late.
American English
- The store is inconveniently located.
adjective
British English
- The meeting time is rather inconvenient for me.
American English
- It's inconvenient to have to drive so far.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The rain caused an inconveniency for our picnic.
- We apologize for any inconveniency this may cause.
- The construction work has resulted in considerable inconveniency for residents.
- The legal proceedings were fraught with procedural inconveniencies that delayed the case.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'inconveniency' as the noun from 'inconvenient', but remember it ends with '-ency' like 'frequency'—an old-fashioned word.
Conceptual Metaphor
INCONVENIENCY IS A BURDEN
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation to 'неудобство' is correct, but 'inconveniency' is archaic; use 'inconvenience' for modern contexts.
- May be confused with 'inconvenience' due to similar spelling and meaning.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'inconvenience'
- Using it in modern contexts where 'inconvenience' is appropriate
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common modern synonym for 'inconveniency'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic and has been largely replaced by 'inconvenience'.
It is best avoided even in formal writing, as it may sound outdated. Use 'inconvenience' instead.
They are synonymous, but 'inconveniency' is an older form that is no longer standard in contemporary English.
It is pronounced /ˌɪnkənˈviːniənsi/, similar to 'inconvenience' but with an '-ency' ending.