consequential
adjective
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Consequential dates from the 17th century and can be traced back to the Latin verb consequi, meaning "to follow along." Consequi, in turn, combines the prefix con-, meaning "through" or "with," and sequi, meaning "to follow." The English words sequel, second, and suitor are among the offspring of sequi. Henry Fielding's 1728 comedy Love in Several Masques introduced the meaning of "important" to consequential, which had until that point been used primarily in the context of results. Evidence for this usage declined temporarily in the 19th century, causing its acceptability to be questioned by such commentators as H. W. Fowler; it resurfaced in the 20th century, however, and is now considered standard.
Examples of consequential in a Sentence
Matt Reynolds, WIRED, 10 Jan. 2025
By this measure, Jimmy Carter was among the most consequential one-term presidents in history.
—Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
The two most consequential moments of the Golden State Warriors’ 121-113 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night came late in the second quarter.
—Anthony Slater, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
The files give a unique window, at once expansive and intimate, into one of the most consequential and volatile social movements of our time.
—Joshua Kaplan, ProPublica, 4 Jan. 2025
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Dictionary Entries Near consequential
Cite this Entry
“Consequential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consequential. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
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consequential
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