consultation
noun
Simple meaning
A conference for the exchange of information and advice.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
kahnsuhltayshuhnSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
kɑnsəlˈteɪʃən
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A conference (usually with someone important)
“He had a consultation with the judge.”
A conference for the exchange of information and advice.
An appointment or meeting with a professional person, such as a doctor.
The act of referring or consulting
The 42nd sura (chapter) of the Qur'an.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B1 · Intermediate
- Frequency
- Common
- Typical Use
- Everyday English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A conference (usually with someone important)
Used this way, consultation is a common word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It suits considered writing and prepared speech.
“He had a consultation with the judge.”
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Common
- Connotation
- Serious and weighty
- Usage feel
- Formal and precise
Usage note
It most often appears in the pattern “consultation with …”, which is worth copying when you use it.
Natural pattern: consultation with …
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use consultation
- “He had a consultation with the judge.”noun
Share your sentence
Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Use it yourself
Knowing “consultation” starts when you use it. Pick a next step, all free.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.