Word
consequential
Phoneticscon·se·quen·tial, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌkɑnsəˈkwɛnʃəɫ/
UK/kˌɒnsɪkwˈɛnʃəl/
Definition
adj. important or having a significant effect on the future. You use this to describe a decision or event that will change things in a big way.
adj. having significant or far-reaching consequences; important. Often describes events, decisions, or historical periods that alter the course of future developments.
Examples
“The court's decision was highly consequential for the whole country.”
“The discovery of the new vaccine proved to be the most consequential event of the decade for global health.”
“Historians argue that the 1914 assassination was the most consequential act of the century, as it triggered a series of alliances that led directly to global conflict.”
Examples
simple
“The court's decision was highly consequential for the whole country.”
contextual
“The discovery of the new vaccine proved to be the most consequential event of the decade for global health.”
complex
“Historians argue that the 1914 assassination was the most consequential act of the century, as it triggered a series of alliances that led directly to global conflict.”
Usage
Often modified by degree adverbs like 'highly', 'deeply', or 'immensely'.
Real-World Examples
“For online platforms, the period immediately following legal reform appears particularly consequential, as communities recalibrate and some voices push back.” “In the longer term, the order’s most consequential provisions are aimed at state school vaccination requirements, which is where American vaccine policy is actually made.” “European naturalists documented the peacock flower's medicinal uses but left its most consequential history behind.” “Agricultural productivity in Europe and North America depended not only on the long-distance transfer of nutrients but also on the equally consequential transoceanic movement of workers around and across the Pacific Ocean .” Etymology
From consequent + -ial.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/consequential