'incongruence' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'incongruentia,' where 'in-' meant 'not' and 'congruentia' meant 'agreement or harmony.'

'incongruentia' transformed into the Old French word 'incongruence,' and eventually became the modern English word 'incongruence.'

Initially, it meant 'lack of agreement or harmony,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.