consideration

noun

con·​sid·​er·​a·​tion kən-ˌsi-də-ˈrā-shən 

1

: continuous and careful thought

After long consideration he agreed to their requests.

2

a

: a matter weighed or taken into account when formulating an opinion or plan

economic considerations forced her to leave college

b

: a taking into account

in consideration of the enormous difficulties involved

3

: thoughtful and sympathetic regard

his consideration of the needs of others

4

: an opinion obtained by reflection

his considerations favoring one profession over another

5

: esteem, regard

… the family built themselves a large, ugly villa … and became people of consideration.

—V. S. Pritchett

6

a

: recompense, payment

a consideration paid for legal services

b

: the inducement to a contract or other legal transaction

specifically : an act or forbearance or the promise thereof done or given by one party in return for the act or promise of another

see also:

in consideration of

Synonyms of consideration

• deliberation
• study
• account
• debate

Examples of consideration in a Sentence

You should give some serious consideration to your retirement plans.

After careful consideration, he agreed to their requests.

Show some consideration and turn down that radio.

Finding a house close to work was an important consideration for them.

Economic considerations forced her to delay her education.

Recent Examples on the Web

Accessibility All guests are welcomed at Mandarin Oriental and careful consideration has been taken for accessibility. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s AI Risk Management Framework is intended to improve organizations’ ability to incorporate trustworthiness considerations into the design, development, use and evaluation of AI systems. — Tara Youngblood, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Last year, Crank declined to sign the first discharge petition that forced a floor vote on the release of the Epstein files and voted to block consideration of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026

For Leah Hollinder, senior director of merchandising and planning at Fjällräven North America, one way to reconcile sustainability with commercial realities is to stop treating the two as separate considerations in the first place. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see consider

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing consideration

• in consideration of
• take everything into consideration
• take (something) into consideration
• under consideration
• valuable consideration

Rhymes for consideration

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Kids Definition

consideration

noun

con·​sid·​er·​ation kən-ˌsid-ə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: careful thought : deliberation

2

: thoughtfulness for other people

3

: something that needs to be considered before deciding or acting

4

: a payment made in return for something

Legal Definition

consideration

noun

con·​sid·​er·​a·​tion

: something (as an act or forbearance or the promise thereof) done or given by one party for the act or promise of another see also contract compare motive

Note: Except in Louisiana, consideration is a necessary element to the creation of a contract. The consideration must result from bargaining by the parties, and must be the thing that induces the mutual promises.

— adequate consideration

: a consideration that is reasonably equivalent in value to the thing for which it is given

— fair consideration

: a consideration that is reasonable and given in good faith

specifically : something with a reasonably equivalent value that under the laws of fraudulent conveyances is given in good faith in exchange for the transfer of property

— good consideration

: a consideration based on a family relationship or natural love and affection

: valuable consideration in this entry

Note: As defined in sense 1, good consideration is the opposite of valuable consideration, though it is sometimes used to mean valuable consideration. Good consideration of the kind denoted by sense 1 cannot create an enforceable contract.

— new consideration

: something according to section 6-106 of the Uniform Commercial Code that becomes payable in exchange for the transfer of bulk goods

— nominal consideration

: consideration consisting of a nominal amount

— past consideration

: something that has already been given or some act that has already been performed that cannot therefore be induced by the other party's thing, act, or promise in exchange and is not truly a consideration

— valuable consideration

: a consideration that confers some benefit having pecuniary value on one party to a contract or imposes a detriment having pecuniary value on the other