Consensus: The Power of Group Agreement
Learn about ‘consensus’, a key SAT vocabulary word. Discover its meaning, pronunciation, etymology, and usage in various contexts. This video explains how consensus plays a role in decision-making and group dynamics, from city councils to scientific communities.
Imagine you’re in a room full of people trying to decide where to go for lunch. Everyone has a different opinion, and it seems impossible to reach an agreement.
This is where our word of the day comes in handy: consensus.
Word type: Noun Consensus, spelled C-O-N-S-E-N-S-U-S, is pronounced kuh n-sen-suhs.
Meaning: Consensus refers to a general agreement or accord. It’s when a group reaches a shared opinion or belief, often after discussion and compromise.
In essence, it’s the majority view or collective opinion of a group.
Word history: The term consensus has Latin roots.
It comes from the Latin word consentire, which means to agree. This word is formed from con, meaning together, and sentire, meaning to feel or think.
So, consensus literally translates to feeling or thinking together. Synonyms for consensus include agreement, harmony, concord, and unanimity.
Antonyms, on the other hand, are disagreement, discord, and dissent. Let’s look at some examples of how to use consensus in sentences.
The city council reached a consensus on the new park development after months of debate. Scientists have formed a consensus that climate change is a significant threat to our planet.
There is a growing consensus among economists that interest rates will rise next year. When using the word consensus, be careful to avoid some common errors.
Remember, consensus is singular, not plural. You would say there is a consensus, not there are a consensus.
Also, the phrase general consensus is often considered redundant, as consensus already implies a general agreement.
To wrap up, consensus is a powerful word that describes agreement among a group. Whether you’re discussing politics, scientific findings, or simply trying to decide on a restaurant with friends, understanding and using the word consensus can help you articulate the process of reaching a shared decision.
Next time you find yourself in a situation where people are working towards agreement, remember this valuable SAT vocabulary word.
