consequent

American  

[kon-si-kwent, -kwuhnt] / ˈkɒn sɪˌkwɛnt, -kwənt /

adjective

1. following as an effect or result; resulting (often followed by on, upon, orto ).

   a fall in price consequent to a rise in production.

2. following as a logical conclusion.

   a consequent law.

3. following or progressing logically.

   consequent reasoning.

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noun

1. anything that follows upon something else, with or without a causal relationship.

2. Logic. the second member of a conditional proposition, as “Caesar was a great general” in “If Caesar conquered Gaul, he was a great general.”

3. Mathematics.

   1. the second term of a ratio.

   2. the second of two vectors in a dyad.

consequent British  

/ ˈkɒnsɪkwənt /

adjective

1. following as an effect or result

2. following as a logical conclusion or by rational argument

3. (of a river) flowing in the direction of the original slope of the land or dip of the strata

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noun

1. something that follows something else, esp as a result

2. logic the resultant clause in a conditional sentence

3. logic the fallacy of inferring the antecedent of a conditional sentence, given the truth of the conditional and its consequent, as if John is six feet tall, he's more than five feet: he's more than five feet so he's six feet

4. an obsolete term for denominator

Other Word Forms

• nonconsequent adjective

Etymology

Origin of consequent

1350–1400; Middle English (noun) < Latin consequent- (stem of consequēns, present participle of consequī to follow closely). See con-, sequent

Explanation

Something that happens as a result of something else can be described as consequent. Rapidly melting snow often causes consequent flooding, for example. A politician might talk about raising the minimum wage and consequent improvements in workers' lives — in other words, she believes the positive changes for workers would be a direct result of higher minimum pay. One thing would follow the other. You're most likely to come across the adjective consequent in formal speech or writing. The Latin root word is consequi, "to follow after."

Example Sentences

Developments in the Middle East and consequent movements in energy prices will remain firmly on investors’ radar.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Then there is the near stalemate on the front line - and the consequent shift in focus by the Russian army to disrupt supply lines instead.

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2025

The study is a 10-year effort to study the exposures to dangerous substances and consequent health effects.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2025

The consequent higher prices, inevitably, fall hardest on those least able to bear the brunt.

From Salon • Oct. 8, 2024

More than any other mark, the comma draws our attention to the mixed origins of modern punctuation, and its consequent mingling of two quite distinct functions: 1.

From "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Author

Related Words

• ensuing
• indirect
• subsequent