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

By Yasmeen Serhan April 16, 2024 8:02 AM EDT A quarter of the way into the most consequential election year in living memory, tech companies are failing their biggest test. —Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024

Come Monday, Bragg and his team of prosecutors will be at the center of arguably the most consequential trial in American history, after charging the former president of the United States with falsifying business records to conceal information from voters. —Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2024

But the most consequential effects the trial had on American life were far broader. —Oliver Darcy, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024

Pierrepoint is credited with many of history’s most consequential hangings, but the point is moot considering that this career shall now find permanent rest in the gallows. —David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024

No Reverse Kissinger Indeed, the deepening of this partnership is one of the most consequential results of the Ukrainian tragedy. —Alexander Gabuev, Foreign Affairs, 9 Apr. 2024

The leaders of the United States and Japan this week will commit to modernizing their military alliance, with the aim of eventually creating a truly operational hub for the most consequential defense partnership in the Pacific. —Jeanne Whalen, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024

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

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