consultation
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a private meeting with a professional, like a doctor or lawyer, to get their expert advice.
a formal appointment with a professional practitioner to seek expert advice or diagnosis.
Simple“You will need to book a consultation with the specialist to discuss your test results.”
In context“The initial consultation lasted nearly an hour as the surgeon meticulously explained the risks and benefits of the proposed procedure.”
UsageOften used with the prepositions 'with' or 'between'.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of discussing something with people before making a decision.
the process of seeking information or advice from people or organisations before making a final decision or policy change.
Simple“The new park was built after a long consultation with the local community.”
In context“The government launched a public consultation to gauge the environmental impact of the proposed high-speed rail link.”
UsageCommonly appears in the phrase 'in consultation with'.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
the act of looking at a book, map, or document to find information.
the act of referring to a source of information or a document for verification or research.
Simple“These rare books are available for consultation only within the library.”
In context“The archive provides digital copies of the manuscripts to ensure their preservation while allowing for scholarly consultation.”
UsageOften used in the context of libraries or archives.
Synonyms
Usage consultation process
“Brazil has opened consultations into potential retaliatory measures against the United States following the imposition of 25 percent tariffs on a range of Brazilian exports.”
“There is a period of public consultation, with a final decision due in December.”
From Middle French consultation, from Latin consultatio. Morphologically consult + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.