consistent
adjective
con·sis·tent kən-ˈsi-stənt 
1
a
: marked by harmony, regularity, or steady continuity : free from variation or contradiction
a consistent style in painting
Data from recent experiments show consistent results.
Prior to World War I, many Americans didn't maintain consistent spellings of their first and last names.—
Michael Waters
Michael Waters
b
: marked by agreement : compatible
—usually used with with
Their descriptions of the accident were consistent.
statements not consistent with the truth
symptoms consistent with heart disease
The decision was consistent with the company's policy.
… the necropsy results revealed distinct holes in the wolves' skulls that were consistent with cougar bites.—Dac Collins
Dac Collins
c
: showing steady conformity to character, profession, belief, or custom
a consistent patriot
He is a consistent supporter of the museum.
d
: continuing to happen or develop in the same way
The pain has been consistent.
Your grades have shown consistent improvement.
2
: tending to be arbitrarily close to the true value of the parameter estimated as the sample becomes large
a consistent statistical estimator
3
archaic : possessing firmness or coherence
consistently
adverb
We played consistently all season.
The store has consistently low prices.
Examples of consistent in a Sentence
… the sixty-five-year-old filmmaker continues to practice his craft with consistent artistic aplomb. —Peter Travers, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2001
I am not consistent about giving vibrancy and other kinds of input to a relationship. … There are periods when I am the most attentive and thoughtful lover in the world, and periods, too, when I am just unavailable. —Toni Cade Bambara, "A Conversation with Claudia Tate," in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
One of the strengths of Blake's letters is their consistent readability … —William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
The rhythm of the gesture never varied. The paper flew in identically the same arc at each doorway, landed in identically the same spot. It was impossible for anybody to throw with such consistent perfection. —Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time, (1962) 1976
He is a consistent supporter of the museum. We need to be more consistent in handling this problem. Customers expect that the quality of service they receive will be consistent. The pain has been consistent. Your grades have shown consistent improvement this school year. Their descriptions of the accident were consistent. The decision was consistent with the company's policy.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2001
I am not consistent about giving vibrancy and other kinds of input to a relationship. … There are periods when I am the most attentive and thoughtful lover in the world, and periods, too, when I am just unavailable. —Toni Cade Bambara, "A Conversation with Claudia Tate," in The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987
One of the strengths of Blake's letters is their consistent readability … —William Styron, This Quiet Dust and Other Writings, (1953) 1982
The rhythm of the gesture never varied. The paper flew in identically the same arc at each doorway, landed in identically the same spot. It was impossible for anybody to throw with such consistent perfection. —Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time, (1962) 1976
He is a consistent supporter of the museum. We need to be more consistent in handling this problem. Customers expect that the quality of service they receive will be consistent. The pain has been consistent. Your grades have shown consistent improvement this school year. Their descriptions of the accident were consistent. The decision was consistent with the company's policy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Amid feverish speculation over whether Iran would attend talks this week, Tehran maintained a consistent public stance that its negotiators would not participate. —Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026 Allain told Fox News Digital that the former employee’s recollection of the pressured retirement and eventual hiring of Berdo is consistent with what he had been told by individuals within the athletics department. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026 Porter’s campaign spokesperson, Peter Opitz, said the former Orange County Congressional representative had been consistent about her desire to lower costs for Californians. —Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026 Otto Lopez hasn’t just been one of the Miami Marlins’ most consistent hitters throughout the first month of the 2026 season. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for consistent
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.
Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026 Allain told Fox News Digital that the former employee’s recollection of the pressured retirement and eventual hiring of Berdo is consistent with what he had been told by individuals within the athletics department. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026 Porter’s campaign spokesperson, Peter Opitz, said the former Orange County Congressional representative had been consistent about her desire to lower costs for Californians. —Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026 Otto Lopez hasn’t just been one of the Miami Marlins’ most consistent hitters throughout the first month of the 2026 season. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for consistent
Cite this Entry
“Consistent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/consistent. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
consistent
adjective
con·sis·tent kən-ˈsis-tənt
1
: being in agreement or harmony
actions consistent with our policy
2
: being unchanging in behavior or beliefs
a consistent supporter
consistently adverb
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