consolidation

American  

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

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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

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

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”; consolidate -ion

Example Sentences

Unless they complete a consolidation of their loans by July and make at least one payment under these plans, even borrowers who have had this debt for years will lose access.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

The firm also noted that Ondas has $1.5 billion in cash that could be used for future consolidation.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

“We anticipate Qantas will reduce costs with some flight consolidation, particularly for the U.S. where A380s are flying with lower load factors,” Macquarie says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

“There are almost 800,000 outstanding applications — income-driven repayment, consolidation requests, forgiveness forms — all of it is massively delayed,” said Natalia Abrams, president and founder of the Student Debt Crisis Center.

From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026

The coming century, he was assured, would be one of consolidation and refinement, not revolution.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• merger
• strengthening
• unification