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
John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 23 May 2025
But, far and away, the most consequential death is that of longtime IMF team member and hacker extraordinaire, Luther (Rhames).
—EW.com, 23 May 2025
The July hearing could set the stage for one of the most consequential rulings on immigration policy in years.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 23 May 2025
Some may have been part of the most consequential and seminal cases and legal trends in recent years.
—Liane Jackson, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for consequential
Cite this Entry
“Consequential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consequential. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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consequential
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consequential
adjective
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