consolidation

[kuhn-sol-i-dey-shuhn]

noun

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

/ 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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of consolidation¹

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”; consolidate -ion

Example Sentences

Those include major consolidation in the industry as studios look to cut costs and move TV and film production overseas because of hefty financial incentives.

From Los Angeles Times

Collective protest has been complicated by consolidation, franchising and acquisitions, making it ever more difficult to even figure out who to protest and how.

From Salon

The decline of ratings and media consolidation has left television more vulnerable to attempts at political intimidation than ever before.

From Salon

This consolidation would further cement the partisan media model driving deepening political polarization in the U.S., as public and local news media lose funding.

From Salon

The three states said they wanted to set up "indigenous mechanisms for the consolidation of peace and justice".

From BBC

Related Words

• merger 
• strengthening www.thesaurus.com
• unification