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 ).

   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 orwith ).

   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

Other Word Forms

• consonantly adverb
• consonantlike adjective
• unconsonant 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

Even to native English speakers, the transliteration of familiar words into an alphabet with imperfectly matched consonants — lacking, for example, a precise “F” or “R” sound — can be confusing.

From Los Angeles Times

There is really no other option, dramatically speaking, or consonant with his character.

From Los Angeles Times

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