Explanation at your level:
Consensus means everyone says 'yes' to the same thing. If you want to eat pizza and I want to eat pizza, we have a consensus. It is a good way to be happy together.
When a group of people talks about a problem and they all agree on the answer, they have a consensus. It is a very useful word for school projects or group games.
A consensus is an agreement that everyone in a group accepts. It is different from a majority vote because it means even the people who disagreed at first are now willing to support the final decision.
The term is often used in professional and political contexts. Achieving a consensus requires patience and negotiation. It is a sign of a healthy group dynamic where every voice is heard and valued.
In academic and formal discourse, consensus refers to a collective judgment or belief. It is frequently used in scientific or social contexts, such as 'the scientific consensus on climate change.' It implies a high level of intellectual agreement.
Etymologically rooted in the Latin 'to feel together,' consensus represents a sophisticated social contract. It transcends mere agreement, suggesting a shared consciousness or unified perspective that emerges from rigorous debate and synthesis of diverse viewpoints.
Palabra en 30 segundos
- Consensus means general group agreement.
- It is an uncountable noun.
- It comes from the Latin for 'feeling together'.
- It is common in formal and professional settings.
Think of consensus as the ultimate team-building word. It is not just about voting where the majority wins; it is about finding a solution that everyone can live with. When a group reaches a consensus, they have talked through their differences and found common ground.
It is a powerful concept in business, politics, and even your family life. Imagine picking a movie to watch. If one person loves horror and another hates it, you might reach a consensus by picking a thriller that satisfies both parties. It is about collaboration and respect for everyone's opinion.
The word consensus comes from the Latin word consentire, which literally means 'to feel together.' The prefix con- means 'together' and sentire means 'to feel.' It is related to the word consent.
Historically, the word was used to describe a shared feeling or opinion. Over time, it evolved to describe the process of reaching a group decision. It is a beautiful example of how language reflects our human need to connect and find peace within a community. It has been used in English since the 17th century, maintaining its core meaning of unity.
You will often hear people say they are reaching a consensus or building a consensus. It is a formal word, so you are more likely to hear it in a meeting or read it in a news report than in a casual chat with friends.
Common collocations include broad consensus, general consensus, and lack of consensus. If you are in a professional setting, using this word shows you value teamwork and diplomacy. It is a sophisticated way to describe agreement that goes deeper than just saying 'we all agreed.'
While consensus itself is a formal noun, it relates to many idioms about agreement. 1. See eye to eye: To agree fully. 2. On the same page: To have the same information and understanding. 3. Singing from the same hymn sheet: To express the same opinion publicly. 4. Strike a chord: To find a point of agreement. 5. Shake hands on it: To finalize an agreement.
Consensus is an uncountable noun. You don't usually say 'a consensus' in the plural sense; instead, you talk about 'a consensus' as a singular event. The stress is on the second syllable: kən-SEN-səs.
It rhymes with words like census and tenses. In British and American English, the pronunciation is quite similar, though the 'r' at the end is more pronounced in American accents. Always use the article 'a' or 'the' before it, as in 'the committee reached a consensus.'
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'sense', meaning to feel.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 's' sounds.
Slightly more nasal 'n'.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the middle 's' as 'z'
- Stressing the first syllable
- Adding an extra 's' at the end
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avanzado
Grammar to Know
Uncountable Nouns
Consensus is uncountable.
Article Usage
A consensus.
Subject-Verb Agreement
The consensus is...
Examples by Level
We have a consensus.
We all agree.
Use 'have' with consensus.
Is there a consensus?
Does everyone agree?
Question form.
We need a consensus.
We must agree.
Need + noun.
The consensus is clear.
The agreement is obvious.
The + noun.
Reach a consensus.
To agree.
Verb + noun.
No consensus yet.
Not agreed yet.
Short phrase.
A group consensus.
Agreement of the group.
Adjective + noun.
Find a consensus.
Look for agreement.
Action verb.
The team reached a consensus quickly.
We are looking for a consensus.
There is no consensus on the plan.
The consensus was to start early.
Can we reach a consensus today?
The consensus is that we should go.
They failed to reach a consensus.
A consensus helps the group move forward.
After hours of debate, we finally reached a consensus.
There is a general consensus that the project is a success.
The committee struggled to find a consensus on the budget.
It is difficult to achieve a consensus in such a large group.
The consensus among the students was to postpone the test.
We need to build a consensus before we make a final decision.
The consensus of opinion was that the event was excellent.
Without a consensus, the project cannot proceed.
The scientific consensus on global warming is very strong.
She worked hard to build a consensus among the stakeholders.
There is a broad consensus that reform is necessary.
The lack of consensus led to a delay in the voting process.
We must strive for a consensus that satisfies all parties.
The consensus view is that interest rates will rise.
Reaching a consensus requires compromise from everyone involved.
The consensus was reached through a series of private meetings.
The political consensus has shifted significantly in recent years.
A fragile consensus was maintained despite the underlying tensions.
The consensus of the board was to pursue a merger.
Achieving a consensus in a polarized environment is a challenge.
The consensus emerged after weeks of intense negotiations.
There is a growing consensus that the policy is outdated.
The consensus of experts is that the data is reliable.
They sought a consensus to avoid further conflict.
The consensus of the historical community is that the event happened.
A social consensus is vital for the stability of a nation.
The consensus of the jury was unanimous and swift.
They reached a consensus through a process of collective deliberation.
The consensus was that the proposal was fundamentally flawed.
A consensus of opinion is not always the same as the truth.
The consensus was shattered by the new evidence.
He challenged the existing consensus with his radical theory.
Colocaciones comunes
Idioms & Expressions
"on the same page"
Agreeing on the plan
Let's make sure we are all on the same page.
neutral"see eye to eye"
To agree fully
We don't always see eye to eye.
neutral"sing from the same hymn sheet"
To give the same message
The team needs to sing from the same hymn sheet.
idiomatic"in sync"
Working well together
Our ideas are finally in sync.
neutral"bury the hatchet"
End a conflict
It is time to bury the hatchet.
idiomatic"find common ground"
Agree on some parts
We need to find common ground.
neutralEasily Confused
Similar root
Consent is permission; consensus is group agreement.
He gave his consent.
Similar sound
Census is a population count.
The census is taken every 10 years.
Similar meaning
Concord is a more literary term for harmony.
They lived in concord.
Similar meaning
Accord is often used for formal treaties.
They signed an accord.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + reached + a consensus
The group reached a consensus.
There is + a consensus + among + group
There is a consensus among the staff.
The consensus + is + that + clause
The consensus is that we should wait.
Build + a consensus + on + topic
We need to build a consensus on this issue.
Lack + of + consensus
The lack of consensus is clear.
Familia de palabras
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Relacionado
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Errores comunes
It is generally treated as an uncountable noun.
No 'to' needed after reach.
Redundant, as consensus implies agreement.
Reach is the standard verb.
Consensus already implies a group.
Tips
Con-Sense
Remember it as 'con' (with) + 'sense' (feeling).
Use it in meetings
It makes you sound professional.
Democratic values
It is a key part of democratic debate.
Uncountable
Don't add an 's' to make it plural.
Stress the middle
kən-SEN-səs.
Don't say 'reach to'
Just reach a consensus.
Latin roots
It means 'feeling together'.
Contextualize
Use it when describing a group decision.
Formal writing
Great for essays.
Clear speech
Enunciate the middle syllable.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Con (together) + Sense (feeling) = Feeling together.
Visual Association
A group of people holding hands in a circle.
Word Web
Desafío
Use the word in a sentence today.
Origen de la palabra
Latin
Original meaning: To feel together
Contexto cultural
None, generally neutral and professional.
Highly valued in corporate and democratic settings.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Workplace
- reach a consensus
- build a consensus
- seek a consensus
Politics
- political consensus
- broad consensus
- lack of consensus
Academic
- scientific consensus
- consensus view
- consensus of experts
Daily life
- find a consensus
- general consensus
- reach a consensus
Conversation Starters
"How do you usually reach a consensus in your group?"
"Do you think a consensus is always possible?"
"What happens when a group cannot reach a consensus?"
"Is it better to have a consensus or a majority vote?"
"Have you ever had to compromise to reach a consensus?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you helped a group reach a consensus.
Why is reaching a consensus sometimes difficult?
Write about a situation where a consensus was necessary.
How does a consensus affect team morale?
Preguntas frecuentes
8 preguntasNo, it is uncountable.
It is very rare and usually avoided.
No, it is a noun.
Dissent or disagreement.
Yes, it is used in professional settings.
kən-SEN-səs.
Yes, but 'agreement' is more common.
It means a level of agreement everyone can support.
Ponte a prueba
The group reached a ___.
Consensus means agreement.
What does consensus mean?
It means everyone agrees.
Consensus is a countable noun.
It is usually uncountable.
Word
Significado
These are common collocations.
The team reached the consensus.
Puntuación: /5
Summary
A consensus is the art of finding a solution that everyone in a group can support.
- Consensus means general group agreement.
- It is an uncountable noun.
- It comes from the Latin for 'feeling together'.
- It is common in formal and professional settings.
Con-Sense
Remember it as 'con' (with) + 'sense' (feeling).
Use it in meetings
It makes you sound professional.
Democratic values
It is a key part of democratic debate.
Uncountable
Don't add an 's' to make it plural.
Ejemplo
After a long discussion, our family finally reached a consensus on which movie to watch.
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