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incongruity
/ˌɪn.kɑŋˈɡruː.ə.ti/
lack of harmony or suitability
The incongruity between the elegant ballroom and the loud rock music playing was striking.
The mismatch between the sophisticated setting and the chaotic music created a jarring contrast.
formal
The state of being incongruous; a lack of harmony or appropriateness between different elements.
The incongruity of wearing flip-flops to a formal wedding made the guest stand out.
The mismatch between the attire and the occasion highlighted the guest's poor judgment.
Scholars noted the incongruity in the historical records, where dates conflicted with known events.
The inconsistency in the documents suggested errors or deliberate misinformation.
Often used in academic, literary, or critical contexts to describe mismatches in style, tone, or logic.
Collocations
striking incongruitya very noticeable lack of harmonyapparent incongruityan obvious mismatch
Pro Tip
Use with adjectives
Pair 'incongruity' with adjectives like 'striking,' 'apparent,' or 'subtle' to emphasize the degree of mismatch (e.g., 'a subtle incongruity in the painting').
Gold Rule
Avoid redundancy
Do not use 'incongruity' when a simpler term like 'mismatch' or 'inconsistency' would suffice in casual contexts.
Word Origin
From Latin *incongruus* (not agreeing), from *in-* (not) + *congruus* (agreeing), past participle of *congruere* (to agree). First recorded in English in the late 16th century.
Usage Notes
Used to describe situations where elements clash or are logically inconsistent. Common in discussions of art, literature, and social behavior.
Word Breakdown
in-
not
prefixcongru-
agreeing or fitting
root-ity
state or quality of
suffixEnglish Dictionary