continuity
/ˌkɒntɪˈnjuːɪti
/noun (plural continuities) [mass noun]
1The unbroken and consistent existence or operation of something over time: a consensus favouring continuity of policy...
- The claimants' continuity of employment was unbroken.
- Emphasizing the unchanging aspects of the topography, he made the case for the unbroken continuity of scriptural history with the living present.
- The study is designed to provide accurate, consistent data and ensure continuity of collection methods.
Synonyms
continuousness, uninterruptedness, flow, progression
1.1A state of stability and the absence of disruption: they have provided the country with a measure of continuity...
- This strain of conservatism prefers stability to change, continuity to experiment, and the tried to the untried.
- All of this is characterized by redundant aspects of stability, permanence and continuity.
- The queen, however, is as constant as the polar star, and it is that continuity, stability and dignity which Britons are now celebrating.
1.2A connection or line of development with no sharp breaks: a firm line of continuity between pre-war and post-war Britain...
- Of course, there may be continuities between the culture that is the church and the culture in which we find ourselves.
- This trick of perspective has been undone by the demise of the Cold War and, as a result, the continuities between the 1990s and the pre-Second World War period stand out more sharply.
- Other books, more often than not written by religious believers, emphasize continuities between the pursuit of theological and scientific truth.
Synonyms
interrelationship, interrelatedness, intertextuality, interconnectedness, connection, linkage, cohesion, coherence;
unity, whole, wholeness
2The maintenance of continuous action and self-consistent detail in the various scenes of a film or broadcast: [as modifier]: a continuity error...
- This is the reason for one of the obvious continuity errors in the film.
- It's a fascinating track that goes into extensive detail about the film's lack of continuity.
- Levin and Simons argue the opposite: that we don't notice continuity errors in film because we wouldn't notice them in real life, either.
2.1The linking of broadcast items by a spoken commentary: [as modifier]: the BBC continuity announcer...
- The BBC Television Service continuity announcers such as Valerie Pitts used these studios to anchor the single channel's programmes.
- This was seen on the BBC, as Ulster Television would use their continuity announcers to do the same.
- The adult education programme, religious service or sports outside broadcast would fade from view and the duty continuity announcer appear in vision.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French continuite, from Latin continuitas, from continuare 'continue', from continuus (see continuous).