consequential

[kon-si-kwen-shuhl]

adjective

1. following as an effect, result, or outcome; resultant; consequent.

2. following as a logical conclusion or inference; logically consistent.

3. 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.

4. having important effects or results.

   Being a lawyer, I knew that a consequential decision should not depend on an informal phone conversation.

5. Archaic.,  self-important; pompous.

consequential

/ ˌkɒnsɪˈkwɛnʃəl /

adjective

1. important or significant

2. self-important; conceited

3. 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

• consequentiality noun
• consequentialness noun
• consequentially adverb
• nonconsequential adjective
• nonconsequentially adverb
• nonconsequentialness noun
• nonconsequentiality noun
• quasi-consequential adjective
• quasi-consequentially adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of consequential¹

First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin consequenti(a) “sequence (of events), logical sequence” + -al adjective suffix; consequence, -al ¹

Example Sentences

Three consequential moments in the second half last Saturday were directly correlated to crippling mistakes from USC defensive backs.

From Los Angeles Times

“From a firefighting perspective these details matter for response. But for recovery, they are less consequential than the cause of the fire and who is responsible for rebuilding the community.”

From Los Angeles Times

In another instance from Saturday, he took Fox News visuals and narrative frames — this time real, although outdated — to order consequential real world action in Portland.

From Salon

But those tendencies were within us years before Dominick became one of TV’s most consequential producers.

From Salon

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opted Friday to punt its most consequential vaccine decisions to a future date.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• far-reaching 
• meaningful 
• momentous 
• substantial 
• weighty