English Reference
noun

consultancy

n.
US /kənˈsəɫtənsi/ UK /kənsˈʌltənsi/ con·sul·tan·cy

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a company that provides expert advice to other businesses or people.

    a professional service firm that provides expert advice within a particular field.

    Simple

    She left her job at the bank to start her own environmental consultancy.

    In context

    The government hired a leading management consultancy to oversee the restructuring of the national healthcare system.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the work or service of giving expert advice to a company.

    the practice or profession of giving expert advice within a specific field.

    Simple

    The firm offers consultancy in areas like marketing and digital strategy.

    In context

    His extensive experience in international law makes him a highly sought-after figure for private consultancy.

Cornwall Insight, the consultancy, has forecast that a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity, paid through direct debit, will pay £1,729 a year from October.

BBC News· 25 Aug 2026

We have broadened the definition to include a lot more,” Pooja Choksi, founder of environmental consultancy Ficus Research Consulting, told me.

The Guardian· 25 Aug 2026

From consultant + -cy or consult + -ancy.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated