consequent
/ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwənt/Happening as a direct result of something else. It shows that one thing caused the other — not just that one thing came after the other.
- The factory closed, and the consequent job losses hit the whole region hard.
- Heavy rainfall and the consequent flooding damaged hundreds of homes.
- Poor planning led to delays and consequent cost overruns.
In logic, the second part of an 'if...then' statement — the 'then' part. In mathematics, the second number in a ratio.
- In 'If it rains, then the ground gets wet,' the consequent is 'the ground gets wet.'
- In the ratio 3:5, the number 5 is called the consequent.
Adinary Nuance
"Consequent" is most often confused with "subsequent," and the difference matters a great deal in academic writing. "Subsequent" only tells you that something came after in time — no cause is implied. "Consequent" always means something happened because of something else — it is about cause and effect, not just sequence. A third near-neighbor, "ensuing," sits in between: it suggests something happening right after an event with some implied connection, but it is weaker and less precise than "consequent." For IELTS and academic essays, choose "consequent" when you specifically want to signal that one thing directly caused another — it is the most precise and formal of the three.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Kết quả / do đó
- Spanish
- consiguiente
- Chinese
- 随之而来的
- Japanese
- 結果として生じる
- Korean
- 결과적인
Etymology
From Latin "consequens," the present participle of "consequi" (to follow after), built from "con-" (together) and "sequi" (to follow). It entered English in the late 14th century, originally in logic and philosophy before spreading to general use.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between 'consequent' and 'subsequent'?
- 'Subsequent' simply means 'coming after in time' with no cause implied. 'Consequent' means 'happening because of something' — it always shows a cause-and-effect link. In academic writing, mixing them up is a common and noticeable error.
- Is 'consequent' formal or informal?
- 'Consequent' is formal. It is common in academic papers, reports, and IELTS essays, but you would not normally use it in everyday conversation. In casual speech, people tend to say 'resulting' or just 'because of that.'
- How do I use 'consequent' correctly in an IELTS essay?
- Use it as an adjective directly before a noun to show that something was caused by what you just mentioned. For example: 'Rising temperatures and the consequent melting of polar ice are major concerns.' Make sure a clear cause comes before it in the sentence.
- Can I use 'consequent' and 'ensuing' interchangeably?
- 'Ensuing' means 'happening right after' and hints at a connection, but it is less precise than 'consequent.' 'Consequent' makes the cause-and-effect link explicit and stronger. In academic or IELTS writing, 'consequent' is the safer, more precise choice.