Word
consultation
Phoneticscon·sul·ta·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌkɑnsəɫˈteɪʃən/
UK/kɒnsəltˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01medical or professional meeting
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Medicine
n. a private meeting with a professional, like a doctor or lawyer, to get their expert advice.
n. a formal appointment with a professional practitioner to seek expert advice or diagnosis.
“You will need to book a consultation with the specialist to discuss your test results.”
“The initial consultation lasted nearly an hour as the surgeon meticulously explained the risks and benefits of the proposed procedure.”
Usage
Often used with the prepositions 'with' or 'between'.
Synonyms
02the process of discussing
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Formal
n. the act of discussing something with people before making a decision.
n. the process of seeking information or advice from people or organisations before making a final decision or policy change.
“The new park was built after a long consultation with the local community.”
“The government launched a public consultation to gauge the environmental impact of the proposed high-speed rail link.”
Usage
Commonly appears in the phrase 'in consultation with'.
Synonyms
03referring to a book or document
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal · Academic
n. the act of looking at a book, map, or document to find information.
n. the act of referring to a source of information or a document for verification or research.
“These rare books are available for consultation only within the library.”
“The archive provides digital copies of the manuscripts to ensure their preservation while allowing for scholarly consultation.”
Usage
Often used in the context of libraries or archives.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “consultation” in context.
Verb
01. hold a consultation
“The board will hold a consultation with stakeholders before finalizing the new policy.”
verb + noun
02. seek a consultation
“You should seek a consultation with a specialist if the symptoms persist for more than a week.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. extensive consultation
“The government launched an extensive consultation to gather public opinion on the proposed tax reforms.”
adj + noun
04. meaningful consultation
“Local residents felt there had been no meaningful consultation regarding the new highway project.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. consultation process
“The entire consultation process took six months to complete and involved multiple focus groups.”
noun + noun
06. period of consultation
“After a brief period of consultation, the committee decided to postpone the vote.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
07. in consultation with
“The architect designed the building in consultation with environmental experts.”
prep + noun + prep
Real-World Examples
“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.” “Patients facing amputation were desperate for a consultation.” “When major works are planned the freeholder must carry out a consultation to determine how much leaseholders should contribute.” Etymology
From Middle French consultation, from Latin consultatio. Morphologically consult + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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