What does intermittence mean?
Intermittence is the noun for the condition of something recurring at intervals, with periods of activity separated by periods of inactivity. It describes a pattern rather than a single interruption: a signal with intermittence may disappear briefly and return, while rainfall with intermittence arrives in scattered showers. The word is formal and relatively uncommon, so writers often choose the more familiar adjective “intermittent” instead. Nevertheless, it is useful when the emphasis falls on the recurring pattern itself, as in “the intermittence of the signal” or “the intermittence of symptoms.” The term is also used figuratively for attention, effort, inspiration, and other activities that continue sporadically rather than steadily. It should not be confused with “interference,” which refers to the disruption or obstruction of a process, signal, or communication.
nounIntermittence is the quality or condition of recurring at intervals rather than continuing continuously.
- The state or quality of happening at intervals, intermittently, or with gaps rather than continuously.
"Despite the intermittence of the signal, the monitoring system identified every outage."
"The intermittence of the power supply caused several computers to restart during the night."
"Her account describes the intermittence of inspiration that characterizes a writer's working life."
The plural is grammatically correct but rare; the singular is normally preferred even when describing several instances of intermittent behavior.
"Early engineers documented the intermittences of the signal with a series of careful observations."
A signal that keeps returning is intermittent; the pattern of those returns is its intermittence.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does intermittence come from?
Intermittence derives from the Latin verb “intermittere,” meaning “to interrupt” or “to let pass at intervals.” That verb combines the prefix “inter-,” meaning “between” or “among,” with “mittere,” meaning “to send,” an ancient root also preserved in English words such as “admit,” “commit,” and “transmit.” The English noun developed as a term for a recurring or discontinuous pattern.
Related word forms
How intermittence is actually used
Intermittence is a relatively uncommon and more formal noun. In ordinary usage, the adjective “intermittent” is generally preferred.
Easily confused with intermittence
Intermittence means that something occurs at irregular or separated intervals, whereas interference means the obstructing or disruption of another process or signal.