consensus

Bridgezipf 4.10

Pronunciation

/kənˈsɛnsəs/(kun-SEN-sus)

Part of speech

nounneutral

Chinese

共识；一致意见

Definition

A general agreement among a group of people; the collective opinion reached by most members.

Word family

  • (related: consensual /kənˈsɛnʃuəl/ adj 双方同意的)

Collocations

  • reach a consensus
  • general consensus
  • broad consensus
  • consensus among
  • consensus building

Examples

  1. 1.After hours of debate, the committee finally reached a consensus on the new policy. (agreement)
  2. 2.The scientific consensus is that human activity is driving climate change. (collective expert opinion)

Synonyms

  • agreement/əˈɡriːmənt/— shared opinion — more general
  • unanimity/ˌjuːnəˈnɪməti/— complete agreement by everyone
  • accord/əˈkɔːrd/— formal agreement

Etymology

from Latin "consensus" (agreement) — "consentire" (to feel together) — con- (together) + sentire (to feel)