discrepancy

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Latin crepō Latin discrepō Latin discrepāns Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin discrepantiabor. English discrepancy Borrowed from Latin discrepantia, from discrepans, from discrepō, from crepō. By surface analysis, discrepant + -cy. See also discrepant.

1. An inconsistency between facts or sentiments.

   “They found a discrepancy between the first set of test results and the second, and they're still trying to figure out why.”

   “Still, there is pilferage, mysterious discrepancies eating into the percentages.”

2. The state or quality of being discrepant.