dis ‧ con ‧ ti ‧ nu ‧ i ‧ ty /ˌdɪskɒntəˈnjuːəti, ˌdɪskɒntɪˈnjuːəti $ -kɑːntəˈnuː-/ BrE AmE noun ( plural discontinuities )
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ continual , ↑ continued ≠ DISCONTINUED , ↑ continuous ≠ ↑ discontinuous ; noun : ↑ continuation ≠ ↑ discontinuation , ↑ continuity ≠ ↑ discontinuity ; adverb : ↑ continually , ↑ continuously ; verb : ↑ continue ≠ ↑ discontinue ]
1 . [countable] a sudden change or pause in a process
discontinuity between
the policy discontinuities between the present and previous governments
2 . [uncountable] when a process is not continuous:
discontinuity in economic development