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
Dawn M. Turner,
Chicago Tribune,
5 July 2026
How to explain the free time that Jefferson had on his hands on what is now billed as one of the most consequential days in US history?
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Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
3 July 2026
Business leaders, policymakers, researchers, and educators are confronting questions as consequential as those faced 250 years ago.
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Ashok N. Srivastava,
Fortune,
3 July 2026
Gettysburg National Military Park, located in south-central Pennsylvania, is the site of arguably the most consequential battle of the Civil War.
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Josh Laskin,
Travel + Leisure,
3 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for consequential
Cite this Entry
“Consequential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consequential. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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consequential
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consequential
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