What does consorting mean?
"Consorting" is the present participle of the verb "to consort," meaning to keep company or associate regularly with someone. Though its literal sense is neutral — simply spending time in someone's company — in contemporary English it almost invariably carries a note of disapproval: people are said to be consorting with criminals, enemies, spies, or other disreputable figures. This negative coloring makes the word a favorite of journalists, prosecutors, and moralists alike, since merely naming the association implies wrongdoing without stating it outright. The verb derives from Latin "consors" ("sharing one's lot"), from "com-" ("together") and "sors" ("fate"), entering English via French in the sixteenth century. A now largely obsolete legal sense referred to an unmarried person keeping company with a member of the opposite sex. Related forms include the noun "consort" (a spouse or royal partner) and "consortium." Because of its judgmental undertone, writers should reserve "consorting" for associations they intend to cast doubt upon.
verb (present participle of 'consort')To keep company or associate with someone or something; in formal legal usage, to keep company with a member of the opposite sex, especially habitually.
- (of a person) to associate or keep company with others, often with disapproval implied
- (archaic/law) to keep company with a member of the opposite sex, especially as an unmarried person
"The scandal broke when photographs surfaced of the senator consorting with known criminals at a private club."
"The press accused him of consorting with lobbyists behind closed doors."
"She was charged under an old statute for consorting with a man not her husband."
In medieval England, 'consort' could mean a group of musicians playing together — so consorting once meant making music, not mischief.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of consorting
The verb "consort" entered English in the sixteenth century from French "consorter," ultimately deriving from Latin "consors," meaning "partner" or "sharer of fate" — formed from "com-" ("together") and "sors" ("lot" or "fate"). The same Latin root gives English "sort," "assort," and "consortium." Over time the neutral sense of companionship acquired a pejorative edge, particularly in phrases like "consorting with criminals."
Related word forms
How consorting is actually used
Carries a strongly negative or disapproving connotation in modern usage — one almost never 'consorts' with good people, but with criminals, enemies, or the disreputable. The word sounds formal and slightly archaic, common in journalism and legal contexts rather than everyday speech.
Easily confused with consorting
'Consort' is also a noun meaning a spouse or companion (especially of royalty), while 'consorting' is strictly the verb form describing the act of keeping company.