Use consequence for any result that follows from a cause: 'a consequence of the policy', 'unintended consequences'. It is neutral in register and works in both formal and everyday contexts. The plural consequences is very common: 'think about the consequences'.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| There were no consequences — everything went well. | There were no negative consequences — everything went well. |
| As a consequence, the project succeeded. | As a consequence, the project succeeded. (This is correct — consequences can be positive.) |
When used in the plural, consequences often carries a warning or threat: 'face the consequences', 'there will be consequences'. This sense is slightly more charged than the neutral 'result' — it implies the outcome is deserved or severe.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| There will be consequences for your actions. | Unauthorised access will result in immediate account suspension. |
| She faced the consequence for her actions. | She faced the consequences of her actions. |
Use consequence to mean 'importance' mainly in formal or literary contexts: 'a matter of consequence', 'of no consequence', 'a person of consequence'. This sense is less common in everyday speech but appears frequently in formal writing and older literature.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The outcome was of no consequence, so we recorded it anyway. | The outcome was of no consequence, so we ignored it. |
| He is a man of great consequence in the industry. | He is a man of great consequence in the industry. (This is correct — it means he is important/influential.) |
Consequence is neutral in its basic sense — consequences can be good or bad. In the plural with 'face' or 'suffer', it almost always implies something negative. The 'importance' sense is formal; in everyday speech 'importance' or 'significance' is clearer.
The phrase 'as a consequence of' means 'as a result of', not 'despite'. Also, 'consequence' meaning 'importance' (of no consequence) is sometimes misread as meaning 'result'. In that phrase, it means 'it doesn't matter', not 'it has no result'.
From Latin consequentia ('logical sequence, succession of events'), from consequi ('to follow closely'), combining con- ('together') and sequi ('to follow'). Entered Middle English c. 1400 via Old French consequence, originally in the logical sense of a conclusion following from premises. The sense of 'importance' developed from the idea that things which follow from other things are the ones that matter.
What does consequence mean?
Consequence has three senses: a result or outcome ('one consequence of the merger was job cuts'), a negative penalty ('face the consequences'), and — in formal use — importance ('of no consequence' means 'it doesn't matter').
What is the difference between consequence and result?
Both mean something that follows from a cause, but consequence often implies the outcome is significant, lasting, or deserved. Result is more neutral and factual. 'The result of the experiment' is neutral; 'the consequences of the experiment' suggests the outcomes matter.
What does 'of no consequence' mean?
'Of no consequence' means 'not important' or 'it doesn't matter'. This is the formal sense of consequence meaning importance or significance, not the result sense.
What is the origin of the word consequence?
Consequence comes from Latin consequentia, from consequi meaning 'to follow closely', combining con- (together) and sequi (to follow). It entered English c. 1400 via French, originally in the logical sense of a conclusion following from premises.
What is the plural of consequence?
The plural is consequences. It is most commonly used in the plural: 'think about the consequences', 'face the consequences'.