consort

American  

[kon-sawrt, kuhn-sawrt] / ˈkɒn sɔrt, kənˈsɔrt /

noun

1. a husband or wife; spouse, especially of a reigning monarch.

2. one vessel or ship accompanying another.

3. Music.

   1. a group of instrumentalists and singers who perform music, especially old music.

   2. a group of instruments of the same family, as viols, played in concert.

4. a companion, associate, or partner.

   a confidant and consort of heads of state.

5. accord or agreement.

6. Obsolete.

   1. company or association.

   2. harmony of sounds.

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verb (used without object)

1. to associate; keep company.

   to consort with known criminals.

2. to agree or harmonize.

verb (used with object)

1. to associate, join, or unite.

2. Obsolete.

   1. to accompany; espouse.

   2. to sound in harmony.

consort British  

verb

1. to keep company (with undesirable people); associate

2. (intr) to agree or harmonize

3. rare (tr) to combine or unite

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noun

1. 1. a small group of instruments, either of the same type, such as viols, (a whole consort ) or of different types (a broken consort )

   2. ( as modifier )

      consort music

2. the husband or wife of a reigning monarch

3. a partner or companion, esp a husband or wife

4. a ship that escorts another

5. obsolete

   1. companionship or association

   2. agreement or accord

Other Word Forms

• consortable
  adjective
• consorter
  noun
• consortion
  noun
• nonconsorting
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of consort

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin consort- (stem of consors ) “sharer,” originally, “sharing” (adjective); see origin at con-, sort

Explanation

If you keep company with someone, you are consorting with them. "The students tended to consort only with other students from similar backgrounds. The staff wanted to break them out of their comfort zone, so they organized games to force them to mingle and meet new people." Consort is usually followed by the preposition with, and sometimes the verb consort is followed by the phrase "with the enemy." The military frowns on consorting with the enemy in a war. Her best friend accused her of consorting with the enemy when she walked home with another girl. As a noun, the term consort refers to the spouse of the reigning monarch. Prince Albert was called the prince consort because he was married to Queen Victoria when she ruled Great Britain.

Example Sentences

Yet the role of a do-nothing prince consort doesn’t suit the dutiful, and now fiercely faithful, Alfred, and a war of wills—and of the sexes—ensues.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

"I want to be inspired by people like Empress consort Nam Phuong, King Khai Dinh, with their fashion style and the interaction between the West and the East," explained Phan.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

Chakrasamvara, the blue-man emblem of compassion, is being embraced by his consort, Vajravarahi, bright red symbol of wisdom, in a spectacularly explosive display whose arrested design seems intended as a spur to deep meditation.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 21, 2025

The next great constitutional upheaval in Britain, the Glorious Revolution of 1688, displaced King James II in favor his daughter Mary and her consort, William of Orange.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2025

“Because he’d fathered the child with Eldred’s consort and was afraid Eldred would find out and choose another of us for his heir.”

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black