consolidation

noun

con·​sol·​i·​da·​tion kən-ˌsä-lə-ˈdā-shən How to pronounce consolidation (audio)
1
: the act or process of consolidating : the state of being consolidated
2
: the process of uniting : the quality or state of being united
specifically : the unification of two or more corporations by dissolution of existing ones and creation of a single new corporation
3
: pathological alteration of lung tissue from an aerated condition to one of solid consistency
4
: the process by which a new memory is converted into a form that is stable and long-lasting
Initially fragile memories can gain stability via consolidation, but the extent to which sleep contributes to this process is unresolved …John D. Rudoy et al.

Examples of consolidation in a Sentence

the consolidation of several intelligence agencies into one super agency
Recent Examples on the Web Meanwhile for smaller players, the ability to think creatively is core to their survival, with the cut-throat industry bracing for a likely wave of consolidation as China looks to rein in the excesses left behind by years of generous subsidies. Bloomberg, Fortune Asia, 10 Mar. 2024 As in other parts of the country, farm consolidation in Arizona appears to be growing. The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024 The one-year-only staffing bump is because Cheltenham was on the receiving end of a controversial school consolidation. Melanie Asmar, The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2024 Either way, drastic change is coming in the form of consolidation. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 1 Mar. 2024 Sony might be king of the video game hill, but that’s not shielding it from the wave of consolidation that has hit the industry in 2024. Chris Morris, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 Consumer advocates are wary of large mergers, especially in the financial services industry, contending that consolidation can lead to higher costs for consumers in the form of interest rates and fees, whether in the insurance, mortgage or credit card markets. Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024 The Biden administration’s Justice Department, which has fought against consolidation in several industries, previously killed a partnership between JetBlue and American Airlines on flights in New York and Boston. David Koenig, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 Mayor Doug Sprouse said the U.S. Census Bureau has not yet acknowledged the consolidation of Bethel Heights with Springdale, and the city has completed 10 smaller annexations since 2020 that also have not yet been... Tom Sissom, arkansasonline.com, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'consolidation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of consolidation was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near consolidation

Cite this Entry

“Consolidation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consolidation. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

consolidation

noun
con·​sol·​i·​da·​tion kən-ˌsäl-ə-ˈdā-shən How to pronounce consolidation (audio)
1
: the process by which an infected lung passes from an aerated collapsible condition to one of airless solid consistency through the accumulation of exudate in the alveoli and adjoining ducts
pneumonic consolidation
also : tissue that has undergone consolidation
areas of consolidation
2
: the process by which a new memory is converted into a form that is stable and long-lasting
Initially fragile memories can gain stability via consolidation, but the extent to which sleep contributes to this process is unresolved …John D. Rudoy et al.

More from Merriam-Webster on consolidation

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