consonant

[ kon-suh-nuhnt ]

/ ˈkɒn sə nənt /

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See synonyms for: consonant / consonants / consonantly on Thesaurus.com

noun

Phonetics.

(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 (opposed to vowel).
(in a syllable) any sound other than the sound of greatest sonority in the syllable, as b, r, and g in brig (opposed to sonant).Compare vowel (def. 1b).
(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.

a letter that usually represents a consonant sound.

adjective

in agreement; agreeable; in accord; consistent (usually followed by to or with): behavior consonant with his character.

corresponding in sound, as words.

harmonious, as sounds.

Music. constituting a consonance.

Physics. noting or pertaining to sounds exhibiting consonance.

consonantal.

OTHER WORDS FOR consonant

3 concordant, congruous, conformant.

See synonyms for consonant on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR consonant

6 dissonant.

See antonyms for consonant on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of consonant

1350–1400; Middle English consona(u)nt (<Anglo-French ) <Latin consonant- (stem of consonāns, present participle of consonāre to sound with or together). See con-, sonant

OTHER WORDS FROM consonant

con·so·nant·like, adjectivecon·so·nant·ly, adverbun·con·so·nant, adjective

Words nearby consonant

consoling, consols, consolute, consommé, consonance, consonant, consonantal, consonantalize, consonantism, consonantize, consonants

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use consonant in a sentence

However, Bottalico notes, that still wouldn’t change the fact that masks stifle consonants more than vowels.
What did you say? Fabric masks can really muffle voices|Sid Perkins|January 20, 2021|Science News For Students
That’s important, says Bottalico, because consonants typically have a higher frequency, or pitch, than vowel sounds.
What did you say? Fabric masks can really muffle voices|Sid Perkins|January 20, 2021|Science News For Students
Each word was one syllable and had starting and ending consonants that sandwiched a vowel sound.
What did you say? Fabric masks can really muffle voices|Sid Perkins|January 20, 2021|Science News For Students
In the flow of a news conference, it’s hard to expect him to avoid the occasional misplaced consonant.
In Josh Bell, the Nationals added a big bat. Now Mike Rizzo might search for another.|Jesse Dougherty|December 26, 2020|Washington Post

It starts with two consonants that you don’t see together too often.
Can You Guess These Words From Their Definitions?|Candice Bradley|July 23, 2020|Everything After Z
Appeals to “collective will” and the judgment of “history” are not consonant with liberal thought.
Anti-Zionism Is Still Kosher|Jerry Haber|October 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Romney's teenage bullying hurts him because it is consonant with his adult record.
Paul Begala on Romney: Once a Bully, Always a Bully|Paul Begala|May 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
It is combined with these consonant elements in order to invite it forward and bring it to a point (figuratively speaking).
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
The most recklessly chivalrous terms are indeed consonant with Sir Edward's character.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
The story seems little consonant with Douglas's warlike intelligence.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
Ten Brink reads ay for ever, on the ground that ever and never, when followed by a consonant, are dissyllabic in Chaucer.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer
No Russian, whose dissonant, consonant name Almost rattles to fragments the trumpet of fame?Postscript.
Newton Forster|Captain Frederick Marryat

British Dictionary definitions for consonant

consonant

/ (ˈkɒnsənənt) /

noun

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

adjective

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

harmonious in tone or sound

music characterized by the presence of a consonance

being or relating to a consonant

Derived forms of consonant

consonantly, adverb

Word Origin for consonant

C14: from Latin consonāns, from consonāre to sound at the same time, be in harmony, from sonāre to sound

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

consonant

OTHER WORDS FOR consonant

OPPOSITES FOR consonant

Origin of consonant

OTHER WORDS FROM consonant

Words nearby consonant

Words related to consonant

How to use consonant in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for consonant

Derived forms of consonant

Word Origin for consonant