continuity

noun

con·​ti·​nu·​i·​ty ˌkän-tə-ˈnü-ə-tē How to pronounce continuity (audio)
-ˈnyü-
plural continuities
Synonyms of continuity
1
a
: uninterrupted connection, succession, or union
… its disregard of the continuity between means and ends …Sidney Hook
b
: uninterrupted duration or continuation especially without essential change
the continuity of the company's management
2
: something that has, exhibits, or provides continuity: such as
a
: a script or scenario in the performing arts
b
: transitional spoken or musical matter especially for a radio or television program
c
: the story and dialogue of a comic strip
3
: the property of being mathematically continuous

Examples of continuity in a Sentence

The art historian is studying the continuities between the painter's works and those of her followers. There's a problem with the movie's continuity.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Its identity centers on the Modified Tanto profile, pronounced geometric surfaces and visual continuity between the blade and titanium handle. New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026 Organic cotton works when farmers are supported with knowledge, stable markets, fair prices, and continuity. Bart Vollaard, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026 That at least has some continuity with the old days, because Third Avenue’s saloons at mid-century were where the sots washed up, like Ray Milland in The Lost Weekend. Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026 Trailing the 2010s trilogy by long enough that a genuine pandemic happened in the interim, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes stays within the continuity of those movies while introducing new characters and a further-future setting. Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for continuity

Word History

Etymology

Middle English continuite, borrowed from Anglo-French continuité, borrowed from Latin continuitāt-, continuitās, from continuus continuous + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of continuity was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Continuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/continuity. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

continuity

noun
con·​ti·​nu·​ity
ˌkänt-ᵊn-ˈ(y)ü-ət-ē
plural continuities
1
: the quality or state of being continuous
2
: something that has or provides continuity

Medical Definition

plural continuities
: uninterrupted connection, succession, or union

More from Merriam-Webster on continuity

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster