What does "consonant" mean?
A sound that results from the passage of air through restrictions of the oral cavity; any sound that is not the dominant sound of a syllable, the dominant sound generally being a vowel.
Consonant
/ˈkɒn.sə.nənt/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A sound that results from the passage of air through restrictions of the oral cavity; any sound that is not the dominant sound of a syllable, the dominant sound generally being a vowel.
- Grammar: consonant is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: accented, accord, accordant, accordant.
- Useful contrasts: absonant, disconsonant, discordant.
- Usage evidence: Liaison occurs in spoken French when a word which ends with a consonant that is normally not pronounced is followed by a word which begins with a vowel. In these cases, the consonant is sometimes pronounced as if it were at the beginning of the following word.
How to use "consonant"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "consonant" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "consonant" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "consonant" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "consonant" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "consonant" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "accented" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "consonant", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A sound that results from the passage of air through restrictions of the oral cavity; any sound that is not the dominant sound of a syllable, the dominant sound generally being a vowel.
- 2 a speech sound that is not a vowel wordnet
- 3 A letter representing the sound of a consonant.
"Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks, however, understood him very well."
- 4 a letter of the alphabet standing for a spoken consonant wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Consistent, harmonious, compatible, or in agreement.
"Each one pretends that his opinion […] is consonant to the words there used."
- 2 Having the same sound.
"1645-1650, James Howell, Epistolae Ho-Elianae consonant words and syllables"
- 3 Harmonizing together; accordant.
"consonant tones; consonant chords"
- 4 Of or relating to consonants; made up of, or containing many, consonants.
"No Russian whose dissonant consonant name / Almost shatters to fragments the trumpet of fame."
Adjective
- 1 in keeping wordnet
- 2 involving or characterized by harmony wordnet
Example
"Liaison occurs in spoken French when a word which ends with a consonant that is normally not pronounced is followed by a word which begins with a vowel. In these cases, the consonant is sometimes pronounced as if it were at the beginning of the following word."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "consonant"?
Common synonyms include: accented, accord, accordant, accordant, according, affirmative.
How do you use "consonant" in a sentence?
Liaison occurs in spoken French when a word which ends with a consonant that is normally not pronounced is followed by a word which begins with a vowel. In these cases, the consonant is sometimes pronounced as if it were at the beginning of the following word.
How do you pronounce "consonant"?
Pronounced /ˈkɒn.sə.nənt/.
Etymology
From Middle English consonant or consonaunt, from Old French consonant, from Latin cōnsonāns (“sounding with”), from the prefix con- (“with”) + the present participle sonāns (“sounding”), from sonāre (“to sound”). The Latin is a calque of Ancient Greek σύμφωνον (súmphōnon).