Incongruity Meaning
/ɪnkɑŋˈɡɹuɪti/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe state of being incongruous, or lacking congruence.
nounAn instance or point of disagreement.
Sentence Examples
The joke relied on the incongruity of situations.
Incongruity between words and actions is suspicious.
I noticed the incongruity between his words and actions.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ between his expensive suit and his cheap shoes was obvious to everyone.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ of seeing a fancy tuxedo at a casual beach party made everyone laugh in surprise.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French incongruité, from Medieval Latin incongruitās, from Latin incongruus.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"I was told that the Australian Government had had to send my name to London before agreeing to my appointment. My credentials were actually addressed to Her Majesty, despite the fact that the Government of the United Kingdom had recognized the Chinese Communist regime in Peking as early as 1950. No one, however, seemed to notice the incongruity of such an arrangement."
— 1983, James C. H. Shen, “Rejoining the Government”, in Robert Myers, editor, The U.S. & Free China: How the U.S. Sold Out Its Ally, Washington, D.C.: Acropolis Books Ltd., →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 42:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ between his expensive suit and his cheap shoes was obvious to everyone.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ of seeing a fancy tuxedo at a casual beach party made everyone laugh in surprise.