consequential

adjective

con·​se·​quen·​tial ˌkän(t)-sə-ˈkwen(t)-shəl 

1

: of the nature of a secondary result : indirect

insurance against consequential loss

2

: consequent

oversupply and the consequential plummeting prices

3

: having significant consequences : important

a grave and consequential event

consequential decisions

4

: self-important

consequentiality

ˌkän(t)-sə-ˌkwen(t)-shē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

consequentially

ˌkän(t)-sə-ˈkwen(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

consequentialness

ˌkän(t)-sə-ˈkwen(t)-shəl-nəs 

noun

Did you know?

Consequential dates from the 17th century and can be traced back to the Latin verb consequi, meaning "to follow along." Consequi, in turn, combines the prefix con-, meaning "through" or "with," and sequi, meaning "to follow." The English words sequel, second, and suitor are among the offspring of sequi. Henry Fielding's 1728 comedy Love in Several Masques introduced the meaning of "important" to consequential, which had until that point been used primarily in the context of results. Evidence for this usage declined temporarily in the 19th century, causing its acceptability to be questioned by such commentators as H. W. Fowler; it resurfaced in the 20th century, however, and is now considered standard.

Synonyms

• attendant
• consequent
• due (to)
• resultant

Examples of consequential in a Sentence

There have been several consequential innovations in their computer software.

The change to the schedule is not consequential.

Recent Examples on the Web

How companies use this extra efficiency is a choice, and a very consequential one. —Ethan Mollick, TIME, 1 Apr. 2024

Wide Awake: The Forgotten Force that Elected Lincoln and Spurred the Civil War A propulsive account of our history's most surprising, most consequential political club: the Wide Awake antislavery youth movement that marched America from the 1860 election to civil war. —Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2024

In one of the more consequential cases, activists have thus far prevailed. —Gaiutra Bahadur Keisha Scarville, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024

Writing a sensitive email, creating a pitch to present to your boss, or making a consequential career choice may be too much for ChatGPT. —Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024

President Joe Biden faced one of the most consequential speeches of his presidency Thursday night: his final State of the Union address before the presidential election. —Joe Murphy, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2024

Dworkin stressed that the administration’s most consequential housing plan was its commitment to build and preserve 2 million homes. —Jeff Stein, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024

This is a story about one of modern life’s least consequential but most acutely annoying experiences: getting a sufficient number of capers out of those dollhouse-size jars they’re sold in. —Allison Morrow, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024

Synthetic fashion influencers seem benign but similar products could be used to deceive their audience on more consequential issues, said Leibowicz, of Partnership on AI. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin consequentiālis, from Latin consequentia "succession of events, consequence" + -ālis -al entry 1

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

consequential

adjective

con·​se·​quen·​tial ˌkän(t)-sə-ˈkwen-chəl 

1

: consequent

2

: having important consequences

Legal Definition

consequential

adjective

con·​se·​quen·​tial ˌkän-si-ˈkwen-chəl 

: of the nature of an indirect or secondary result