consolidation

American  

[kuhn-sol-i-dey-shuhn] / kənˌsɒl ɪˈdeɪ ʃən /

noun

consolidations plural

1. an act or instance of combining or consolidating into a single or unified whole; the state of being consolidated; unification.

   Our CEO proposed the consolidation of several departments and the elimination of 10 positions.

2. solidification; strengthening.

   consolidation of principles and beliefs.

3. something resulting from a unification of two or more elements; a consolidated whole.

4. Law. the union of two or more claims or actions at law for trial or appeal.

5. Finance. debt consolidation.

6. Business, Finance.

   1. the combining of several financial accounts into a single one, as when the financial results from two or more businesses are combined into a single statement.

   2. a statutory combination of two or more corporations.

7. Pathology. the process of becoming solid, as the changing of lung tissue from aerated and elastic to firm in certain diseases.

8. Geology. lithification.

9. Physiology. the process by which the brain forms stable, long-lasting memories.

10. Railroads: Now Rare. Consolidation, a steam locomotive having a two-wheeled front truck, eight driving wheels, and no rear truck.

---

consolidation British  

/ kənˌsɒlɪˈdeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of consolidating or state of being consolidated

2. something that is consolidated or integrated

3. law

   1. the combining of two or more actions at law

   2. the combination of a number of Acts of Parliament into one codifying statute

4. geology the process, including compression and cementation, by which a loose deposit is transformed into a hard rock

5. psychol the process in the brain that makes the memory for an event enduring; the process is thought to continue for some time after the event

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonconsolidation
  noun
• preconsolidation
  noun
• reconsolidation
  noun
• unconsolidation
  noun
• consolidative
  adjective
• proconsolidation
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• consolidations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of consolidation

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English consolidacioun “healing by closing up, knitting of bones,” from Late Latin consolidātiōn- (stem of consolidātiō ) “merging of usufruct in property, establishing of ownership, consolidation”; see consolidate -ion

Explanation

In a tough economy, you see a lot of consolidation. This could be smaller businesses joining together or the consolidation of debt, as in combining three credit card payments into one. Anywhere there’s consolidation, there’s merging, joining, and combining. You can see the word solid at the heart of consolidation, and its Latin roots will tell you that it means “to make solid together.” The goal of consolidation is really just that, to combine things in order to make them stronger or more beneficial. If you’re good at art and your friend is good at science, you may want to form a consolidation to take the science fair by storm.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

consolidation consolidations

Bastian has said that there could be consolidation among struggling smaller players but that it isn’t something Delta is looking to pursue.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

Flag patterns that follow a significant trend depict a short-term consolidation of that trend, and are often resolved in the same direction of the trend that followed them.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 26, 2026

Catalysts might include regulatory changes, “financial engineering” such as stock repurchases or spinoffs, a change in management or industry consolidation.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

Beyond that, regulators concluded that even with the proposed Paramount-Warner consolidation there were enough producers to avoid competitive harms.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

After the arrival of Europeans, the Big Island’s King Kamehameha I rapidly proceeded with the consolidation of the largest islands by purchasing European guns and ships to invade and conquer first Maui and then Oahu.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Many fear the merger will result in massive job cuts in an industry that has been under siege from consolidations and layoffs.

From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026

Two other consolidations led to widespread cutbacks: Walt Disney Co.’s acquisition of Fox entertainment assets in 2019, and Discovery’s takeover of AT&T’s WarnerMedia four years ago.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 13, 2026

This was mainly driven by a 2% shortfall relative to forecasts in its key auto business and larger effect from consolidations within the group, according to Bernstein.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2025

Over time, the large banks’ greater ability to invest in automation could serve as a catalyst for consolidations.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2025

Their discretion as regards extensions, combinations, consolidations, leases, and purchases, ought to be greatly reduced, if not destroyed.

From Monopolies and the People by Cloud, D. C.

Related Words

• merger
• strengthening
• unification