# consolation

/ˌkɑnsəˈɫeɪʃən/ (US) · /kɒnsəlˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/consolation
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. comfort

noun · CEFR B2

the comfort you feel when someone is kind to you after something bad happens.

For teachers: the state of being consoled or the act of providing emotional comfort during a period of grief or disappointment.

- It was a great consolation to know that all her friends were there to support her.
- The letters of sympathy from former colleagues provided a small measure of consolation during his long recovery from the accident.

### 2. a small prize or benefit

noun · CEFR B2

a small prize or benefit given to someone who has lost a competition.

For teachers: a prize or advantage awarded to a runner-up or loser as a gesture of recognition.

- He didn't win the tournament, but he received a medal as a consolation.
- The team took home the bronze medal as a consolation after their disappointing defeat in the semi-finals.

## Examples

- A cup of tea was her only consolation.
- He accepted the silver medal as a consolation for missing the gold.
- The promise of future success offered little consolation for the immediate pain of defeat.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.