Discrepancy: a difference where agreement was expected
Discrepancy is a difference between things that should match, such as two records of the same delivery. It comes from Latin discrepare, meaning to disagree or sound differently. If one list shows twelve boxes and another shows eleven, the missing agreement is a discrepancy to investigate.
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When matching records do not match
Discrepancy is a noun for a difference or inconsistency, especially between accounts, figures or facts that are expected to agree. It comes from Latin discrepare, meaning to disagree or sound differently.
Suppose a dispatch record lists twelve boxes and a receiving record lists eleven. There is a discrepancy between the records. The word identifies the mismatch without deciding which record is wrong.
Useful sentence patterns include:
- A discrepancy between the two lists.
- A discrepancy in the recorded totals.
A discrepancy does not itself establish deception. It could result from a typing error, a counting mistake or records made at different times. Describe the difference first, then investigate its cause.