consensus
kuhn-SEN-suhs
/kənˈsensəs/
A general agreement among a group of people.
Consensus does not necessarily mean 100% of people agree on every detail, but that everyone can live with the final decision.
The story behind the word. From 'con-' (together) and 'sentire' (to feel). It literally means 'feeling together'. It’s the same 'sent' root found in 'sentiment' and 'sensation'.
Word relationships
- unanimity: Unanimity means every single person agrees; consensus is a general, collective agreement.
- concord: Concord is a more poetic or old-fashioned term for harmony and agreement.
- dissension: Strong disagreement within a group.
- discord: Lack of agreement or harmony.
Commonly confused with
- census: A census is an official count of a population; consensus is an agreement.
Word family
- consensual (adjective): By mutual consent.
Collocations
- reach a consensus
- broad consensus
- lack of consensus
- consensus building
Example sentences
- "There is a broad scientific consensus that human activity is the primary driver of climate change." Scientific community
- "Consensus: The process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values, and policies in search of something in which no one believes." Political criticism
Memory hook
To reach a CONSENSUS, you need the common SENSE of the group. Feeling together.
When not to use
Don't use for a simple majority vote (like 51%); consensus implies a broader, more harmonious agreement.
Fun facts
- In medicine, a 'consensus statement' is a comprehensive report by a group of experts on the best way to treat a specific disease.
Explore more words
Agreement, concurrence, concur, consent, groupthink, concerted
Also appears in
- Communication → Agreements & Affirmations
- Leadership → Collaboration & Teamwork
- Leadership → Decision Making & Decisiveness
- Leadership → Conflict Resolution
- Leadership → Negotiation & Compromise
- Relationships → Peer Pressure & Conformity
- Economic Theory & Analysis → Cryptoeconomics
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → International Environmental Accords
- Work & Office Life → Meetings & Conferences
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