What does inconveniently mean?
Inconveniently is an adverb meaning that something happens at a troublesome or unsuitable time, or in a way that causes difficulty. It is especially useful for describing events that are poorly timed: a train may arrive inconveniently late, or a meeting may be inconveniently scheduled for a holiday. The word can also describe the inconvenient positioning of an object or the awkwardness of an arrangement, though it is most commonly used for timing. Unlike the more general unfortunately, inconveniently highlights the practical disruption or poor timing involved. It is widely used in British and American English and can appear in formal writing as well as everyday conversation. In a memorable context, the word captures the familiar frustration that a problem is not necessarily serious, but its timing makes it especially annoying.
adverbIn an inconvenient manner, especially at an unsuitable or troublesome time. It can also describe something occurring in a way that causes inconvenience or awkwardness.
- At an unsuitable or inconvenient time.
- In a way that causes difficulty, awkwardness, or inconvenience.
"The meeting was inconveniently scheduled for early Saturday morning."
"The delivery arrived inconveniently during the busiest hour of the day."
"The question was inconveniently timed, just as the meeting was about to end."
Sometimes the problem is not what happened, but when it happened: conveniently, inconveniently often turns a minor annoyance into a major one.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does inconveniently come from?
The word comes from the Latin root conveniens, meaning suitable or convenient, from convenire, meaning to come together or agree. In the formation of inconvenient, the prefix in- reverses the meaning, giving the sense of not suitable or causing difficulty. The adverb inconveniently was formed in English from inconvenient and the usual adverbial suffix -ly.
Related word forms
How inconveniently is actually used
Common in both formal and informal English. It often describes poor timing, but it can also refer more generally to a placement, arrangement, or action that is inconvenient.
Easily confused with inconveniently
Inconvenient is an adjective describing something that causes difficulty, whereas inconveniently is an adverb describing an action or circumstance as inconvenient.
Unfortunately often means that something is regrettable, while inconveniently more specifically emphasizes an unfortunate situation that is troublesome or poorly timed.