Word
consensus
Meanings
General agreement among a group, especially after discussion.
A widely accepted view or opinion within a community or field.
Definition
A consensus is general agreement among a group after discussion.
A consensus is an opinion or decision that most people in a group accept. It is usually reached through conversation, negotiation, and compromise rather than a vote with clear winners and losers. In many contexts, it suggests broad support even if not everyone agrees completely.
Examples
- After two hours of debate, the committee finally reached a consensus on the revised policy.
- I sensed a consensus forming in my team once everyone saw the updated timeline.
- The conference showed a growing consensus that the method is reliable in real-world conditions.
- She built a consensus by listening carefully and reframing the problem in shared terms.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes say "make a consensus"; the natural collocation is "reach" or "build" a consensus.
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