consequential
kon-suh-KWEN-shuhl
/ˌkɒnsɪˈkwɛnʃəl/
Following as a result or effect; self-important or of major significance.
Describes events, decisions, or damages that stem directly from a prior cause or carry momentous weight.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'consequi' (to follow closely, pursue). In legal philosophy, consequential damages refer to losses that do not flow directly from an act, but from the immediate results of that act.
Word relationships
- momentous: Momentous emphasizes solemn historical gravity, while consequential emphasizes far-reaching downstream effects.
- significant: Significant means notable; consequential specifically highlights that results will flow from it.
- inconsequential: Trivial, minor, or having no meaningful downstream effect.
Commonly confused with
- subsequent: Subsequent means following in time; consequential means following as a direct result.
Word family
- consequence (noun): A result or effect of an action.
- consequentially (adverb): As a result or outcome.
Collocations
- consequential decision
- consequential damages
- highly consequential
- consequential effect
Example sentences
- "The signing of the treaty was one of the most consequential decisions of the twentieth century." History
Memory hook
ConSEQUENTIAL = CONSEQUENCES follow. Consequential carries weight and downstream effects.
When not to use
Do not use to describe minor or routine everyday choices.
Fun facts
- In ethics, 'consequentialism' is the theory that the morality of an action is judged solely by its consequences.
Explore more words
consequence, subsequent, consequentialism, sequential, outcome, pompous
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