Use consent for any situation where someone voluntarily agrees to or permits something: 'with the consent of all parties', 'parental consent', 'give consent'. It implies the person had the right or power to refuse.
Use consent for any situation where someone voluntarily agrees to or permits something: 'with the consent of all parties', 'parental consent', 'give consent'. It implies the person had the right or power to refuse.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She didn't say no, so her consent was implied. | She didn't say no, but consent must be actively given. |
| He got her consent by not telling her the full details. | He obtained her agreement, but not her informed consent. |
Use consent in legal and ethical contexts to mean the full standard: freely given, informed, specific, and revocable at any time. The phrase informed consent is standard in medicine. In sexual ethics and law, consent must be active, not assumed from silence or prior relationship.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She signed the form so she consented. | Signing the form is one part of consent, but consent also requires full understanding and freedom from pressure. |
| Consent once given cannot be taken back. | Consent can be withdrawn at any time. |
Use consent as a verb followed by 'to': 'she consented to the terms', 'he consented to be interviewed'. It is slightly more formal than 'agree' and implies deliberate, active agreement.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| They consented the proposal. | They consented to the proposal. |
| He consented being filmed. | He consented to being filmed. |
Consent implies the person had the genuine power to say no. Silence, passivity, or coerced agreement are not consent. The verb always takes 'to': 'consent to something'. In legal and medical contexts, consent must also be informed — the person must understand what they are agreeing to.
'Consent' is not the same as silence or compliance. 'She didn't object, so she consented' is a common and dangerous misreading. The verb is followed by 'to': 'consented the plan' is wrong; 'consented to the plan' is correct.
From Old French consentir ('to agree'), from Latin consentire ('to feel together, agree'), combining com- ('with, together') and sentire ('to feel'). The sense evolution from 'feeling together' to 'mutual agreement' occurred in French before the word passed into English around 1300. The noun and verb have coexisted since Middle English.
What does consent mean?
Consent means voluntary agreement to something. As a noun: 'she gave her consent'. As a verb: 'they consented to the terms'. In legal and medical contexts it must be freely given, informed, specific, and revocable.
What is informed consent?
Informed consent is a legal and ethical standard requiring that a person fully understands what they are agreeing to before giving consent. It is used in medicine (before procedures), research (before participation), and data protection (before collecting personal data).
What is the difference between consent and permission?
Both mean allowing something, but consent carries a stronger ethical weight — it implies the person genuinely had the power to refuse and actively chose to agree. Permission is more neutral and is often granted by an authority figure downward.
Does consent have to be verbal?
Not always in everyday use, but in legal, medical, and sexual contexts, explicit verbal or written consent is strongly recommended. Silence or lack of objection is not legally or ethically sufficient consent.
What is the origin of the word consent?
Consent comes from Latin consentire, meaning 'to feel together', combining com- (with) and sentire (to feel). It entered English around 1300 via Old French consentir.