consonant

American  

[kon-suh-nuhnt] / ˈkɒn sə nənt /

noun

1. Phonetics.

   1. (in English articulation) a speech sound produced by occluding with or without releasing (p, b; t, d; k, g), diverting (m, n, ng), or obstructing (f, v; s, z, etc.) the flow of air from the lungs (vowel ).

   2. (in a syllable) any sound other than the sound of greatest sonority in the syllable, as b, r, and g in brig (sonant ).

   3. (in linguistic function) a concept empirically determined as a phonological element in structural contrast with vowel, as the b of be, the w of we, the y, s, and t of yeast, etc.

2. a letter that usually represents a consonant sound.

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adjective

1. in agreement; agreeable; in accord; consistent (usually followed by to orwith ).

   behavior consonant with his character.

   Synonyms:

   congruous, concordant

2. corresponding in sound, as words.

3. harmonious, as sounds.

4. Music. constituting a consonance.

   Antonyms:

   dissonant

5. Physics. noting or pertaining to sounds exhibiting consonance.

6. consonantal.

consonant British  

/ ˈkɒnsənənt /

noun

1. a speech sound or letter of the alphabet other than a vowel; a stop, fricative, or continuant

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adjective

1. (postpositive; foll by with or to) consistent; in agreement

2. harmonious in tone or sound

3. music characterized by the presence of a consonance

4. being or relating to a consonant

Other Word Forms

• consonantlike adjective
• consonantly adverb
• unconsonant adjective

Etymology

Origin of consonant

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English consona(u)nt, from Anglo-French, from Latin consonant-, stem of consonāns “sounding together,” present participle of consonāre “to sound with or together”; equivalent to con- + sonant

Example Sentences

Now he seems to regret it—though he still hasn’t apologized directly or acknowledged that he was wrong, and is pretending that what he said earlier is consonant with what he’s saying now.

From Slate • Dec. 30, 2025

But Mr. Haas’s work is much easier on the ear than most Stockhausen—more consonant and not especially taken up with chromaticism.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 6, 2025

There is really no other option, dramatically speaking, or consonant with his character.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 26, 2024

For example, the consonant "da," which is produced by touching the tongue to the hard palate behind the teeth, is needed to produce the word dog.

From Science Daily • Feb. 1, 2024

“Nor are Duncan and Donalbain, who also share an initial and, for that matter, concluding, consonant, the same person.”

From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt