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inconsistant

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Etymology and origin of the French word inconsistant

Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1544 More words from the 16th century
Ultimate origin
Latin cōnsistō

Pronunciation

  • /ɛ̃.kɔ̃.sis.tɑ̃/[1]

Forms

inconsistant (feminine inconsistante, masculine plural inconsistants, feminine plural inconsistantes)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French in- + consistant.[2][3][4][1] An isolated use is recorded in 1544, and the word was taken up again in the 18th century,[3][5] probably after English inconsistent (“lacking coherence”), an English word of the 17th century;[2][5][3] Balzac in 1843 still treated the word as English.[2] consistant goes back to Latin cōnsistō (“to stand firm”).[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

After an isolated record in 1544,[2][3] it appears in Antonini's French–Latin–Italian dictionary (1769) of a thing that does not agree or fit with another, used only of conduct and ideas.[2]

Semantic evolution

The word began in the moral and logical sense, of conduct and ideas that hang together badly;[2][7] Beaumarchais used it in 1775 of a person lacking firmness of character.[2][7] From 1866 (Victor Hugo) it was said of what lacks firmness or clearness in a figurative sense,[2] and the Larousse of 1907 recorded the physical sense, of a substance without body or cohesion.[2][7] The noun inconsistance is attested from 1738.[5]

Timeline

  • 1544 – An isolated record.[2][3]
  • 1738 – The noun inconsistance appears.[5]
  • 1769 – Antonini's dictionary defines it of conduct and ideas that do not fit together.[2]
  • 1775 – Beaumarchais uses it of a person.[7]
  • 1866 – Hugo uses it for what lacks firmness, in the Travailleurs de la mer.[2]
  • 1907 – The Larousse records the physical sense.[2][7]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Lacking moral firmness, coherence or substance: un caractère inconsistant, des projets inconsistants.[8][7]
  2. Lacking depth or interest: un roman au scénario inconsistant.[8][7]
  3. Lacking physical consistance, runny or flimsy: une sauce inconsistante.[2][8]

Usage notes

It does not mean “contradictory” as English inconsistent usually does: Littré and the Robert define it as lacking firmness or substance.[4][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  5. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 2, 1072b
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  8. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
Cite this entry

“Inconsistant.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/inconsistant. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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