# consequence
## English
### Etymology

From Middle English consequence, from Old French consequence, from Latin consequentia. While analysable as con- +‎ sequence, its adjective form has a different origin.

### Pronunciation

* (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ˈkɒnsɪkwɛns/
* (General American) IPA: /ˈkɑnsɪkwɛns/, /ˈkɑnsɪkwəns/
* Audio (US):(file)

### Noun

consequence (countable and uncountable, plural consequences)
* An effect; something that follows a cause as a result.
** 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page 7:The lobule margins, furthermore, are arched away from the lobe, with the consequence that (when fully inflated) the abaxial leaf surface forms the interior lining of the lobule.
** An unwanted or unpleasant effect.
    I'm warning you. If you don't get me the report on time, there will be consequences.
*** 2013 September-October, Michael Sivak, “Will AC Put a Chill on the Global Energy Supply?”, in American Scientist:Nevertheless, it is clear that the global energy demand for air-conditioning will grow substantially as nations become more affluent, with the consequences of climate change potentially accelerating the demand.
* consecution; chain of causes and effects.
* conclusion, deduction or inference; the thing concluded.
* (especially when preceded by "of") Importance, influence, or significance.
    My opinions are of no consequence whatsoever to my parents.
** 1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 19, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC:Thus young Pen, the only son of an estated country gentleman, with a good allowance, and a gentlemanlike bearing and person, looked to be a lad of much more consequence than he was really; and was held by the Oxbridge authorities, tradesmen, and undergraduates, as quite a young buck and member of the aristocracy.
** 2011 September 2, Phil McNulty, “Bulgaria 0-3 England”, in BBC:Rooney's United team-mate Chris Smalling was given his debut at right-back and was able to adjust to the international stage in relatively relaxed fashion as Bulgaria barely posed a threat of any consequence.

#### Synonyms

* (effect): aftercome
* (unwanted or unpleasant effect): repercussion
* (importance, influence, significance): moment, (hyponyms) distinction, rank, value
* (conclusion): implication

#### Derived terms

* actions have consequences
* as a consequence of
* consequenceless
* in consequence
* inconsequence
* law of unintended consequences
* legal consequence
* misconsequence
* nonconsequence
* of consequence
* superconsequence
* unintended consequence

#### Collocations

* social consequence
* legal consequence
* environmental consequence
* political consequence
* economic consequence
* personal consequence
* cultural consequence
* moral consequence
* unintended consequence
* undesirable consequence
* likely consequence
* probable consequence
* necessary consequence
* logical consequence
* natural consequence
* important consequence
* significant consequence
* bad consequence
* disastrous consequence
* devastating consequence
* fatal consequence
* catastrophic consequence
* harmful consequence

#### Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

#### See also

* causality
* effect
* impact

### Verb

consequence (third-person singular simple present consequences, present participle consequencing, simple past and past participle consequenced)
* (transitive) To threaten or punish (a child, etc.) with specific consequences for misbehaviour.
** 1998, Terry M. Levy, Michael Orlans, Attachment, trauma, and healing:The goal of consequencing is to teach the child a lesson that leads to positive choices and behaviors. The goal of punishment is to inflict pain and seek revenge. Angry parenting is punitive and ineffectual.
** 2001, Betty Bedard-Bidwell, Hand in Hand, page 117:These behaviours are not acceptable within a classroom setting and often result in the child being consequenced or removed from class.

### References

* ↑ Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “consequence”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

### Further reading

* “consequence”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
* “consequence”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
* “consequence”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.