# consort

/kənˈsɔɹt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/consort
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. royal spouse

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the husband or wife of a king or queen.

For teachers: the spouse of a reigning monarch, who does not share the monarch's sovereign power.

- Prince Philip was the consort of Queen Elizabeth II for many decades.
- The role of a royal consort is often defined by strict protocol and a lack of formal constitutional authority.

Usage: Often used in titles like 'Prince Consort' or 'Queen Consort'.

### 2. musical group

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small group of musicians who play instruments from the same family together.

For teachers: a small ensemble of instruments, typically of the same family, common in Renaissance and Baroque music.

- The university has a consort of viols that performs early music.
- The performance featured a consort of recorders, demonstrating the rich textures of sixteenth-century polyphony.

### 3. to associate with

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to spend a lot of time with someone, especially someone that other people do not like or trust.

For teachers: to associate or keep company with someone, typically with a negative or pejorative connotation.

- The police suspected he was consorting with known criminals.
- The politician was heavily criticised for consorting with lobbyists who represented foreign interests during the election cycle.

Usage: Usually takes the preposition 'with'.

## Examples

- The prince served as the queen's consort for many decades.
- He arrived at the gala accompanied by his usual consort, a local artist known for her eccentric style.
- While the king handled matters of state, his consort focused on patronage of the arts, effectively modernizing the crown's public image through cultural diplomacy.

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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.