inconstant

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled unconstancy and unconstant

US /ɪnˈkɑnstənt/ UK /ɪnˈkɒnstənt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
frequently changing; fickle or unreliable

The inconstant weather ruined our plans for the weekend.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · frequently changing; fickle... fickle changeable variable capricious unreliable volatile

Opposites

constant steadfast reliable steady faithful

Word family

Forms inconstancy

Derived forms inconstantlyinconstancy

Related forms constant constancy

Etymology

From Latin inconstans, from in- ('not') + constans ('standing firm, steadfast'), present participle of constare ('to stand together'), from com- ('together') + stare ('to stand').

constare Latin stare Latin *steh₂- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# inconstant

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈkɑnstənt/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈkɒnstənt/

## Meanings
1. frequently changing; fickle or unreliable

## Examples
- The inconstant weather ruined our plans for the weekend.

## Synonyms
- fickle
- changeable
- variable
- capricious
- unreliable
- volatile

## Antonyms
- constant
- steadfast
- reliable
- steady
- faithful

## Derived Forms
- inconstantly
- inconstancy

## Related Forms
- constant
- constancy

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: constare
- Root: stare
- Root: *steh₂-

## Etymology
From Latin inconstans, from in- ('not') + constans ('standing firm, steadfast'), present participle of constare ('to stand together'), from com- ('together') + stare ('to stand').

## AI Etymology
Inconstant comes from Latin inconstans, from in- ('not') + constans ('standing firm, steadfast'), present participle of constare ('to stand together'), from com- ('together') + stare ('to stand'). The historical trail runs through Latin constare, Latin stare and Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-. Morphologically, the surface form is analyzable into prefixes, suffixes, compounds, or participial endings that carry part of the history. In modern use it means frequently changing; fickle or unreliable. Derived formations include inconstantly, inconstancy; related forms include constant, constancy.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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