noun / verb
inconvenience
in-kuhn-VEEN-ee-uhns/ˌɪnkənˈviːniəns/
Trouble or discomfort that disrupts someone's plans or activities.
The broken chain causes inconvenience by forcing the cyclist to walk.
Etymology
Latin inconvenientia meant a lack of consistency or congruity. Through senses such as misfortune and affliction, the word came to name the trouble or discomfort something causes.
In context
At the end of your trip you can return your IC card for a small refund, so be sure to buy your IC Card and avoid the inconvenience of having to buy paper tickets for every train journey.
More examples
- We apologized for the inconvenience.
- The change caused only minor inconvenience.
- She did not want to inconvenience her neighbors.
Forms
inconvenience · inconveniences · inconvenienced · inconveniencing
inconvenient adjective — causing trouble or disruption
Similar words
- hassle
- An informal troublesome complication.
- disruption
- Interference that can be more serious than inconvenience.