Word
consensual
Phoneticscon·sen·su·al, stress on the second syllable
US/kənˈsɛnsuəɫ/
UK/kənsˈɛnsjuːəl/
Definition
adj. describing something that everyone involved has agreed to. It is often used to talk about legal agreements or physical contact between people.
adj. relating to or involving mutual consent between all parties. Frequently used in legal and ethical contexts to describe voluntary participation in an activity.
Examples
“The two companies reached a consensual agreement to merge.”
“Legal experts emphasize that any physical contact must be consensual to be considered lawful and ethical.”
“The transition to the new management structure was entirely consensual, with every department head signing off on the proposed changes before they were implemented.”
Examples
simple
“The two companies reached a consensual agreement to merge.”
contextual
“Legal experts emphasize that any physical contact must be consensual to be considered lawful and ethical.”
complex
“The transition to the new management structure was entirely consensual, with every department head signing off on the proposed changes before they were implemented.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be' or 'remain', or attributively before nouns like 'agreement' or 'encounter'.
Real-World Examples
“This provision of the law eliminates or reduces criminal penalties for consensual sexual activity when the participants are close in age and one partner is below the legal age of consent.” “The California Democrat has admitted to "personal mistakes" outside his marriage but also says his actions were consensual in nature and did not violate House ethics rules.” Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/consensual