What does consultation mean?
A consultation is a discussion held in order to exchange views, gather opinions, or obtain expert guidance, usually as a prelude to some decision or course of action. It appears most often in three settings: government and business, where a public consultation invites stakeholders to comment on proposed changes; medicine, where a consultation is the appointment during which a doctor assesses a patient and offers advice; and law, where clients consult lawyers about their options. The word implies more than casual conversation — it suggests deliberation carried out deliberately and often formally, frequently captured in the phrase 'in consultation with', which signals that no one acted alone. Derived from Latin roots meaning to deliberate together, consultation has carried this sense of careful, shared judgment since it entered English in the early seventeenth century. Its enduring usefulness lies in its precision: it names not just a meeting but the purpose behind one.
nounA discussion or meeting in which advice, opinions, or information is exchanged, especially to inform a decision; also the act of seeking professional advice from an expert such as a doctor or lawyer.
- The act of discussing something with others before making a decision.
- An appointment or meeting with a professional (such as a doctor or lawyer) to seek expert advice.
"After a brief consultation with her attorney, she decided to settle out of court."
"The council launched a public consultation on the new housing development before approving any plans."
"Her first consultation with the cardiologist lasted nearly an hour and ended with several tests being scheduled."
Standard plural, used chiefly for multiple appointments or instances of discussion.
"The clinic offers free initial consultations to all new patients."
"Consultation" traces back to the Roman consuls — the elected magistrates who literally sat together to deliberate on behalf of the republic.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of consultation
Consultation derives from the Latin verb 'consultare', meaning 'to deliberate or take counsel', itself a frequentative form of 'consulere', 'to consider or consult' — the same root that gave Rome its consuls. The word passed into English via Old French in the early seventeenth century, retaining its core sense of joint deliberation. Cognates include French 'consultation' and Spanish 'consultación', while related English forms such as 'consult', 'consultant', and 'consultative' share the same Latin ancestry.
How consultation is actually used
Formal to neutral in register; common in legal, medical, and governmental contexts. In British English, 'public consultation' carries strong connotations of official democratic process. The phrase 'in consultation with' signals that a decision will not be made unilaterally.
Easily confused with consultation
Consultancy is the profession or business of giving expert advice, while consultation is the act or instance of discussing something or seeking that advice.