Definition of CONSENSUS (original) (raw)
often attributive
1
a
: general agreement : unanimity
the consensus of their opinion, based on reports … from the border—
John Hersey
b
: the judgment arrived at by most of those concerned
the consensus was to go ahead
Is the phrase consensus of opinion redundant?: Usage Guide
The phrase consensus of opinion, which is not actually redundant (see sense 1a; the sense that takes the phrase is slightly older), has been so often claimed to be a redundancy that many writers avoid it. You are safe in using consensus alone when it is clear you mean consensus of opinion, and most writers in fact do so.
Synonyms
Examples of consensus in a Sentence
Yet despite this and other dust-ups during the convention, the general consensus is that Episcopalians weathered this one with their customary civility intact. —Antonio Ramirez, Commonweal, 12 Sept. 1997 Despite years of debate over the best wine to serve at Thanksgiving, no real consensus has emerged. —Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, 30 Nov. 1995 Beyond the general goal of sustainability, there was little consensus at the conference on how to get from here to there. —Constance Holden, Science, 6 July 1990 … it is the consensus of opinion that the Iceni in their geographic isolation remained 'Celtic' … —Antonia Fraser, The Warrior Queens, 1988
Everyone on the council seems to understand the need for consensus. There is a lack of consensus among the citizens. The decision was made by consensus.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The consensus estimates are hovering around a net gain of 170,000 jobs for last month, according to FactSet. —Alicia Wallace, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025 While the school board has not said how the district would be split, the consensus among the public is that the line would form along Denton Highway (U.S. 377). —Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Feb. 2025 Wall Street consensus toward Broadcom is overwhelmingly bullish, and the stock’s average price target corresponds to a 5% potential upside, LSEG data shows. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 5 Feb. 2025 The consensus from those close to the SPL is that the central budget for this season was essentially used in 2023-24 for 2024-25, meaning funds were not readily available to the clubs last summer or in January. —Dan Sheldon, The Athletic, 5 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for consensus 
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Latin, "agreement, concord," from Latin consentīre "to join in feeling, be in agreement, concur in opinion" + -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at consent entry 1
First Known Use
1633, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Time Traveler
The first known use of consensus was in 1633
Dictionary Entries Near consensus
Cite this Entry
“Consensus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consensus. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 9 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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