consonant

[ kon-suh-nuhnt ]

noun

1. Phonetics.
   1. (in English articulation) a speech sound produced by occluding with or without releasing (p, b; t, d; k, g), diverting (m, n, ng), or obstructing (f, v; s, z, etc.) the flow of air from the lungs ( vowel ).
   2. (in a syllable) any sound other than the sound of greatest sonority in the syllable, as b, r, and g in brig ( sonant ). Compare vowel ( def 1b ).
   3. (in linguistic function) a concept empirically determined as a phonological element in structural contrast with vowel, as the b of be, the w of we, the y, s, and t of yeast, etc.
2. a letter that usually represents a consonant sound.

adjective

1. in agreement; agreeable; in accord; consistent (usually followed by to or with ):

   behavior consonant with his character.

   Synonyms: congruous, concordant

2. corresponding in sound, as words.
3. harmonious, as sounds.
4. Music. constituting a consonance.

   Antonyms: dissonant

5. Physics. noting or pertaining to sounds exhibiting consonance.
6. consonantal.

consonant

/ ˈkɒnsənənt /

noun

1. a speech sound or letter of the alphabet other than a vowel; a stop, fricative, or continuant

adjective

1. postpositive; foll by with or to consistent; in agreement
2. harmonious in tone or sound
3. music characterized by the presence of a consonance
4. being or relating to a consonant

Derived Forms

• ˈconsonantly, adverb

Other Words From

• conso·nant·like adjective
• conso·nant·ly adverb
• un·conso·nant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of consonant¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English consona(u)nt, from Anglo-French, from Latin consonant-, stem of consonāns “sounding together,” present participle of consonāre “to sound with or together”; equivalent to con- + sonant

Word History and Origins

Origin of consonant¹

C14: from Latin consonāns, from consonāre to sound at the same time, be in harmony, from sonāre to sound

Example Sentences

Her characters would crash down on consonants, as though landing a plane in the midst of an engine blowout or stretch out vowels in defiance of several laws of physics.

From Los Angeles Times

“We find a substantial increase in bankruptcy rates, debt collections, debt consolidation loans, and auto loan delinquencies” in those states, they wrote, consonant with an increase in excessive debt among players.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s hard to think about Sajak doing anything other than soliciting consonants and vowels or declaring a player “bankrupt,” but his storied career began long before “Wheel of Fortune.”

From Los Angeles Times

They were prone to making simple mistakes, including basic addition errors and mistaking consonants for vowels, which led them to provide incorrect answers.

From Science Daily

In the Gluck rehearsal, Palumbo cautioned the group not to sit on one word’s final vowel, so that the next consonant could be more explosive.

From New York Times