Meaning of "Incongruity"

[murli_18@yahoo.com]

Dear Teacher,

What is the meaning of "incongruity"? Also tell me how and when to use it?

Thanking you,

Murli

[nemesisage]

1.Lack of congruence.
2.The state or quality of being incongruous.
3.Something incongruous.

incongruity - noun

A marked lack of correspondence or agreement

The noun incongruity has one meaning:

Meaning #1: the quality of disagreeing; being unsuitable and inappropriate

Ref: - www.answers.com

[Fieldmouse]

Hello Murli,

"Incongruity" is a word you will rarely hear in spoken English. I've certainly never used it. It is more likely to be seen in a scholarly article.



Regards,
Fieldmouse

[MrPedantic]

Hello Murli, how are you?

Here are some examples:

1. He was struck by the incongruity of her remark.

= her remark did not accord with the circumstances.

2. The incongruity of his first name is exceeded only by the incongruity of a lawyer quoting the lyrics of Marilyn Manson. [Adapted from Google.]

= his name does not match his personality; even more strangely, his quotations from songs by Marilyn Manson are not what you would expect from a lawyer.

3. Incongruity is one of the main ingredients of humour. [Adapted from Emmett Kelly]

= unexpected juxtapositions make us laugh.

All the best,

MrP

[Fieldmouse]

I'd be interested to know how often you use this word in conversation, Mr. P.





Regards,
Fieldmouse

[murli_18@yahoo.com]

Thank You, MrP.

I am fine. Hope you too.

In one of your 3 examples you used the word " juxtapositions ". In Oxford dictionary it is wriiten "vehicles parked side by side". I am curious to know what does the meaning it conveys here. Could you please explain, MrP?

" 3. Incongruity is one of the main ingredients of humour. [Adapted from Emmett Kelly]

= unexpected juxtapositions make us laugh.

All the best,
MrP"

Thanking you,

Murli

[MrPedantic]

Originally Posted by Fieldmouse

I'd be interested to know how often you use this word in conversation, Mr. P.
Regards,
Fieldmouse

I feel I'm going to have to make a point of using it daily now...

[MrPedantic]

Originally Posted by EMAIL REMOVED - Send PM to This User Instead

In one of your 3 examples you used the word " juxtapositions ". In Oxford dictionary it is wriiten "vehicles parked side by side". I am curious to know what does the meaning it conveys here. Could you please explain, MrP?
" 3. Incongruity is one of the main ingredients of humour. [Adapted from Emmett Kelly]
= unexpected juxtapositions make us laugh.

Hello Murli

That's a very strange definition. Usually, "juxtaposition" means "the act of positioning of one thing next to another" or "the state of being placed next to another thing". Next-to-each-other-ness, so to speak.

So "unexpected juxtapositions make us laugh" means "when two things are placed next to each other in a surprising way, it makes us laugh".

Does that make it any clearer? I fear not...

MrP

[murli_18@yahoo.com]

Dear MrP.,

Hope you are in good health.

Yes. MrP. You made me clear. Thank you very much for taking pain for my sake.

Murli