consultation

American  

[kon-suhl-tay-shuhn] / ˌkɒn səlˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

• consultations
  plural

1. the act of consulting; conference.

2. a meeting for deliberation, discussion, or decision.

3. a meeting of physicians to evaluate a patient's case and treatment.

4. English Law. a writ returning a case to an ecclesiastical court from a temporal one.

5. Australian. lottery.

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consultation British  

/ ˌkɒnsəlˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or procedure of consulting

2. a conference for discussion or the seeking of advice, esp from doctors or lawyers

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preconsultation
  noun
• reconsultation
  noun
• proconsultation
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• consultations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of consultation

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin consultātiōn-, stem of consultātiō, from consultāt(us) “deliberated” (past participle of consultāre; see consult) + -iō -ion

Explanation

A consultation is a conference or meeting at which opinions are exchanged or advice is prescribed. If one doctor says your severe blueberry allergy is cured, you might want a consultation with another doctor before indulging in the forbidden fruit. Stemming from the Latin word consultationem, which means to “consult, ask counsel of, or reflect,” a consultation usually involves a lot of questions and hopefully expert answers. Consultations happen before big decisions have to be made, such as talking with a realtor before buying a house or conferring with master yogi before attempting a head stand.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

consultation consultations

Greggs said it launched a consultation and work with trade unions and employee representatives to refine and develop its plans.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

But after months of consultation, the culture ministry decided against the move, saying it could risk deterring domestic visitors as well as a result.

From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026

Now Scottish ministers are starting a consultation process to simplify the delivery of social care, with the NHS taking the lead.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

Nancy was referred for an X-ray, but her parents instead decided to book a private consultation at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

Hardly any of the decisions he made had involved consultation with or the supervision of adults.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz

Under Canada’s constitution, the federal government must hold adequate consultations with indigenous people whose territory will be impacted by projects such as pipelines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

The Washington Post reported Sunday that a military complex had not previously been raised during required historic-preservation consultations.

From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026

A dentist says he's "deeply concerned" by illegal dental tourism "pop-up" consultations in Northern Irish hotels, which aren't properly registered.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

"As an MEP, it's perfectly normal to speak to all stakeholders, whether businesses, trade unions or NGOs. What matters is transparency and ensuring those consultations remain balanced before decisions are taken," he said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026

I recognize them from some of Madrina’s consultations, and I know all their business.

From "Pride" by Ibi Zoboi

Related Words

• appointment
• conference
• deliberation
• dialogue
• discussion
• examination
• hearing
• interview
• meeting
• session