consequence

American  

[kon-si-kwens, -kwuhns] / ˈkɒn sɪˌkwɛns, -kwəns /

noun

• consequences
  plural

1. the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier.

   The accident was the consequence of reckless driving.

   Synonyms:

   sequel, upshot, issue, outcome

   Antonyms:

   cause

2. an act or instance of following something as an effect, result, or outcome.

3. the conclusion reached by a line of reasoning; inference.

4. importance or significance.

   a matter of no consequence.

   Synonyms:

   weight, moment

5. importance in rank or position; distinction.

   a man of great consequence in art.

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idioms

1. in consequence of, as a result of; on account of.

   A trial was held in consequence of the investigation.

2. in consequence, consequently; as a result; hence.

   He withdrew from the world, and in consequence was forgotten.

consequence British  

/ ˈkɒnsɪkwəns /

noun

1. a result or effect of some previous occurrence

2. an unpleasant result (esp in the phrase take the consequences )

3. significance or importance

   it's of no consequence

   a man of consequence

4. logic

   1. a conclusion reached by reasoning

   2. the conclusion of an argument

   3. the relations between the conclusion and the premises of a valid argument

5. the relation between an effect and its cause

6. as a result

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consequence More Idioms  

1. see in consequence; of consequence.

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Synonym Usage

See effect. See importance.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonconsequence
  noun
• superconsequence
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• consequences
  plural

Etymology

Origin of consequence

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English (from Anglo-French ), from Latin consequentia. See consequent, -ence

Explanation

Things in a sequence come one after another, as in a number sequence of 1, 2, 3, 4. A consequence comes after, or as a result of something you do, for example, "He was given a traffic ticket as a consequence of running the red light." A consequence is a "result" or "conclusion," and the Latin sequī, "to follow," is part of its history. Most actions and acts of nature have a consequence that follows as a result. When people do something wrong, like rob a bank, the consequence will probably be prison time. If an organization works for good and finds a cure for cancer, on the other hand, people will get better as a consequence. When something occurs in nature, like a tornado touching down, destruction might be the consequence.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

consequence consequences

Another consequence was that the nation had to endure the worst inflation since the early 1980s.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

Baryon number conservation also has a much more tangible consequence.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

And yes, it is possible that the eventual consequence of that process is yet another by-election.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

Like Dixon, he was describing the predictable consequence of forcing voters back to the polls after they believed that the election was over.

From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026

That was the price, the consequence, of this magic.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

He described attempting the keto diet as a “near-psychotic event” brought on by sugar withdrawal, joking that giving someone in his position that much irritability could have geopolitical consequences.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

Alongside efforts to restrict access and harmful information, the researchers suggest that emergency services could take additional steps to reduce the consequences of sodium nitrite poisoning.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 15, 2026

“The immigration laws enacted by Congress impose consequences when someone who has accrued unlawful presence, leaves the country and later seeks admission, including when that departure occurs under advance parole,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

Professor Derek Manas, the medical director of NHS Blood and Transplant, admonished NHS England for creating a system with a burnt-out workforce, "few consequences for poor performance" and operations cancelled "last-minute".

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

One might imagine that a criminal defendant, when brought before the judge—or when meeting with his attorney for the first time—would be told of the consequences of a guilty plea or conviction.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Related Words

• aftereffect
• aftermath
• effect
• fallout
• issue
• reaction
• repercussion