consolation

noun

con·​so·​la·​tion ˌkän(t)-sə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act or an instance of consoling : the state of being consoled : comfort

She found great consolation in all the cards and letters she received.

2

: something that consoles

specifically : a contest held for those who have lost early in a tournament

consolatory

kən-ˈsō-lə-ˌtȯr-ē 

-ˈsä-

adjective

Synonyms

• comforting
• consoling
• reassurance
• solace
• solacing

Examples of consolation in a Sentence

His kind words were a consolation to me.

the consolation of the grieving family by their pastor

Recent Examples on the Web

Perhaps the largest consolation is the idea that, in the actual Cold War, a British spy would be allowed at the adults’ table. —Daniel Immerwahr, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2024

Windward 70, Branson 61: The Wildcats won the Platinum Division consolation title at Damien with Gavin Hightower making the all-tournament team. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2023

Torrey falls in consolation championship Santa Margarita 56, Torrey Pines 50: Cameron McNamee led Santa Margarita (11-4) with 20 points and was named to the all-tournament team. —John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2023

Yet some did not even have the consolation of burying their dead. —Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Nov. 2023

Leroux and Schmitz’s upper bound showed that the reachability problem can’t get any more complex than that — little consolation to anyone hoping for an infallible practical procedure for solving it. —Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 6 Dec. 2023

Major American firms were largely closed to women lawyers at the time, some offering her secretarial positions as consolation. —Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 1 Dec. 2023

But the movie also sees him, plainly, for the man he was forced to become too soon, the survivor who can offer others a consolation he himself was long denied. —Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2023

As a consolation, Globalist status holders will receive a one-time deposit of five Guest of Honor rewards in January 2024. —Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

see console entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing consolation

• if it's any consolation
• consolation prize

• if it's any consolation
• consolation prize

Kids Definition

consolation

noun

con·​so·​la·​tion ˌkän(t)-sə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act or an instance of consoling : the state of being consoled

2

: something that consoles

consolatory

kən-ˈsōl-ə-ˌtōr-ē

-sä-lə-

-ˌtȯr-

adjective