consequence

noun con·se·quence \ ˈkän(t)-sə-ˌkwen(t)s , -kwən(t)s \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of consequence

1 : a conclusion derived through logic : inference

… we can deduce … many consequences each of which can be tested by experiment.
—James Bryant Conant

2 : something produced by a cause or necessarily following from a set of conditions

the economic consequences of the war

This refined taste is the consequence of education and habit.
—Joshua Reynolds

3 a : importance with respect to power to produce an effect

a mistake of no consequence

a problem of grave international consequence

b : social importance

a person of some consequence

4 : the appearance of importance; especially : self-importance

You will find his consequence very just and reasonable when you see him in his family. … He has a fine dignified manner, which suits the head of such a house …
—Jane Austen

— in consequence

: as a result

See consequence defined for English-language learners

See consequence defined for kids

Examples of consequence in a Sentence

The slightest error can have serious consequences.
What were the economic consequences of the war?
The decrease in sales was a consequence of some bad publicity about the company.
Some say many jobs will be lost as a consequence of the trade agreement.
He weighed the consequences of making a career change.
The style you choose is of no consequence.

Recent Examples of consequence from the Web

However, inhalation of asbestos over time has been linked to serious adverse health consequences.

— deanna pai, Glamour, "The Ugly Truth Behind Makeup Marketed to Kids," 16 Apr. 2018
For Congress and the scientists, the extra money for an SLS launch seems of little consequence.

— eric berger, Ars Technica, "The billion-dollar question: How does the Clipper mission get to Europa?," 16 Apr. 2018
Russia is reportedly warning that the U.S. actions will not be without consequences.

— Essence.com, "Trump Strikes Syria Over Chemical Weapons Attack; Some Lawmakers Question Legality," 14 Apr. 2018
An incident in Norton Dec. 30 led to more serious consequences for an unhappy patron.

— emily sweeney, BostonGlobe.com, "Losing her heart on a first date? Not exactly," 13 Apr. 2018
But Syrian government forces are believed to have used chemical weapons — typically chlorine gas — on numerous other occasions without consequence, according to U.N. officials.

— tracy wilkinson, latimes.com, "Trump weighs response to suspected chemical attack in Syria, where Israel is believed to have launched a missile strike," 10 Apr. 2018
Since so few people would pay to see the finished product, the substance of even his most bombastic lines seemed to be of little consequence.

— jay willis, GQ, "The President of the United States Doesn't Seem to Understand What a War Crime Is," 6 Apr. 2018
This context, missing from the trolly-problem scenario, turned out to be the most important aspect of the outcome in Tempe, both in terms of consequences and morality.

— ian bogost, The Atlantic, "Enough With the Trolley Problem," 30 Mar. 2018
Instead Hollinghurst uses that opening section as an origin point, like a dry little bulb that will later sprout tulips of consequence.

— josephine livingstone, The New Republic, "Alan Hollinghurst’s Long Journey," 30 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'consequence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of consequence

see ¹consequent

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

consequence Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of consequence

importance, consequence, moment, weight, significance mean a quality or aspect having great worth or significance. importance implies a value judgment of the superior worth or influence of something or someone.

- a region with no cities of importance

consequence generally implies importance because of probable or possible effects.

- the style you choose is of little consequence

moment implies conspicuous or self-evident consequence.

- a decision of great moment

weight implies a judgment of the immediate relative importance of something.

- the argument carried no weight with the judge

significance implies a quality or character that should mark a thing as important but that is not self-evident and may or may not be recognized.

- the treaty's significance

Other Logic Terms

a posteriori, connotation, corollary, inference, mutually exclusive, paradox, postulate, syllogism

CONSEQUENCE Defined for English Language Learners

consequence

noun

Definition of consequence for English Language Learners

: something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions
: importance or value

CONSEQUENCE Defined for Kids

consequence

noun con·se·quence \ ˈkän-sə-ˌkwens \

Definition of consequence for Students

1 : something produced by a cause or following from a condition

Her fear of stairs is a consequence of her fall.

2 : real importance

His promotion is of no consequence to me.

Word Root of consequence

The Latin word sequī, meaning “to follow,” and its form secutus give us the roots sequ and sec. Words from the Latin sequī have something to do with following. Something second follows what came first. A sequel is a book or movie that follows another and continues the story. A sequence is the order in which one thing follows another. A consequence is a result that follows from a condition or action.