consolation

American  

[kon-suh-lay-shuhn] / ˌkɒn səˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

• consolations
  plural

1. 

   the act of consoling; comfort; solace.

   Synonyms:

   cheer, support, help, succor, relief

2. the state of being consoled.

3. someone or something that consoles.

   His faith was a consolation during his troubles. Her daughters are a consolation to her.

4. Sports. a game, match, or race for tournament entrants eliminated before the final round, as a basketball game between the losing semifinalists.

---

consolation British  

/ ˌkɒnsəˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of consoling or state of being consoled; solace

2. a person or thing that is a source of comfort in a time of suffering, grief, disappointment, etc

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• consolatory
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• consolations
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of consolation

1325–75; Middle English consolacioun (< Anglo-French ) < Latin consōlātiōn- (stem of consōlātiō ), equivalent to consōlāt ( us ), past participle of consōlārī ( con- con- + sōlā-, stem of sōlārī to comfort, + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion; see solace

---

Explanation

Consolation is something that makes someone feel better after they're disappointed or sad. This is a word for things that try to console someone. A consolation prize isn't as good as first prize, but it's better than nothing. A hug is little consolation when you've had your heart broken. You give someone consolation when try to cheer them up. Consolation can be the act of making someone feel better, like trying to make them laugh, but it can also be something that makes someone happy, like a plate of warm cookies.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

consolation consolations

Pope Leo XIV's upcoming trip to Argentina, the first papal visit in 39 years, is a sort of consolation prize for the homeland of predecessor Francis, who disappointed his compatriots by never returning as pontiff.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

Beyond Tiznow, further consolation for California came earlier Saturday when the top jockey in the state, Juan Hernandez, got his first Cup win after 30 consecutive defeats.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

But they gave themselves a boost with a comfortable win - running in seven tries and scoring 34 unanswered points until two late consolation scores for Cook Islands.

From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026

“I’m more in the business of winning hockey games. I don’t think there’s any consolation in a 2-1 loss,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

At least I’m tall, he thought, but it wasn’t much of a consolation.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

“Before You Were Anne” is a poignant story with consolations small and transcendent.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

Let's give the biblical authors credit for taking the sublimity of our loss straight up instead of chasing false consolations.

From Salon ● Mar. 31, 2024

Scotland rallied and scored some consolations, not that it mattered.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2023

William J. Burns, the C.I.A. director, traveled to Kyiv last week for secret consolations with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, according to two U.S. officials.

From New York Times ● Jan. 19, 2023

Without the support of old certainties and consolations, almost mechanically, he assumes the procedures and doctrines of the classroom.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• comfort
• compassion
• encouragement
• pity
• solace
• succor
• sympathy

---