discontinuity

noun

dis·​con·​ti·​nu·​ity (ˌ)dis-ˌkän-tə-ˈnü-ə-tē How to pronounce discontinuity (audio)
-ˈnyü-
Synonyms of discontinuitynext
1
: lack of continuity or cohesion
2
: gap sense 5
3
a
: the property of being not mathematically continuous
a point of discontinuity
b
: an instance of being not mathematically continuous
especially : a value of an independent variable at which a function is not continuous

Synonyms of discontinuity

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Examples of discontinuity in a Sentence

There is a sense of discontinuity between the book's chapters. microscopic discontinuities in the connecting wires
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.
Until then, omitting leap seconds will make our digital infrastructure easier to manage and less prone to bugs or service outages arising from a leap second discontinuity. — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 The change won’t be noticed by most of us, and switching to continuous time will be easier for our digital infrastructure—there will be much less risk of bugs or service outages arising from a leap second discontinuity. — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2026 Primary focus is on breakthrough technologies and applications that create discontinuities in currently evolving technology trends. — Stefan Becket, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 This is particularly true as AI generates ambiguity in business operations, whether due to discontinuities created by access suspension to models undergoing export control restrictions, or models adding watermarks that create questions of ownership. — Nisha Talagala, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for discontinuity

Word History

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of discontinuity was in 1570

Phrases Containing discontinuity

Rhymes for discontinuity

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Browse Nearby Words

discontinued
discontinuity
discontinuous
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Cite this Entry

“Discontinuity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discontinuity. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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