consequential
Americanadjective
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following as an effect, result, or outcome; resultant; consequent.
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following as a logical conclusion or inference; logically consistent.
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of significance or importance.
His writings offer insight into his personality, opinions, and strengths, and show early evidence of the consequential man he would become.
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having important effects or results.
Being a lawyer, I knew that a consequential decision should not depend on an informal phone conversation.
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Archaic. self-important; pompous.
adjective
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important or significant
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self-important; conceited
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following as a consequence; resultant, esp indirectly
consequential loss
Usage
Although both consequential and consequent can refer to something which happens as the result of something else, consequent is more common in this sense in modern English: the new measures were put into effect, and the consequent protest led to the dismissal of those responsible
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of consequential
First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin consequenti(a) “sequence (of events), logical sequence” + -al adjective suffix; see consequence, -al 1
Explanation
Things that are consequential are important — extremely important. Electing a new president and having a baby are consequential. Killing a fly? Not so much. It might help you remember the meaning of consequential to think of consequences — the results of something. Consequential events have consequences, because they are hugely important events. A little bit of rain isn't consequential, but a hurricane is very consequential. Slipping on the sidewalk is not usually consequential, but if you slip and end up in the hospital, that is definitely consequential. It's occasionally hard to tell whether something is consequential, at least until some time has passed.
Vocabulary lists containing consequential
Vocabulary from Hillary Clinton's Concession Speech, November 9, 2016
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Pax
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"How the Media Twists the News"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“If there were some prize for ‘Important and Consequential People Who Are Unknown to the General Public,’ Ernie would be a top contender,” Mr. Garrow said.
From New York Times • Nov. 7, 2022
The Treasury would have ordinarily made the payment via a Barnett Consequential to Northern Ireland, as it had previously done with a £200 energy loan payment scheme.
From BBC • Aug. 10, 2022
Consequential to these rules, the sum of oxidation numbers for all atoms in a molecule is equal to the charge on the molecule.
From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019
Together, Chait’s “Audacity” and D’Antonio’s “A Consequential President” will become obligatory references for future historians grappling with the Obama presidency, though mainly as pivot points toward works that are more probing and less celebratory.
From Washington Post • Jan. 13, 2017
Consequential as is the two-game lead the Soviet champion now enjoys, the board is still set for a duel that could rank among the most brilliant in this ancient game’s annals.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
