concomitant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “concomitant” mean?
Something that naturally accompanies or is connected with something else.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Something that naturally accompanies or is connected with something else.
An event, circumstance, or condition that occurs together with or as a direct result of another; often used as an adjective to describe something that is associated with or consequent upon something else.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in meaning and register across both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British academic and medical writing, but the difference is marginal.
Frequency
Low-frequency word in both varieties, used primarily in formal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “concomitant” in a Sentence
N + concomitant with + NThe + concomitant + of + NAdj + concomitant + NVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “concomitant” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - The word is not used as a verb.
American English
- N/A - The word is not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - The adverbial form 'concomitantly' exists but is extremely rare.
American English
- N/A - The adverbial form 'concomitantly' exists but is extremely rare.
adjective
British English
- Heavy rainfall and the concomitant flooding caused widespread disruption.
- The new policy and its concomitant bureaucracy frustrated the team.
American English
- Economic growth and its concomitant rise in consumer spending were analyzed.
- The surgery carries risks of infection and concomitant complications.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The merger brought a concomitant need for office restructuring.
Academic
The study examined the disease and its concomitant psychological effects.
Everyday
Rarely used in casual conversation.
Technical
The drug's efficacy must be weighed against its concomitant side-effects.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “concomitant”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “concomitant”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “concomitant”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'It concomitants' - INCORRECT).
- Confusing it with 'concurrent' (which emphasises simultaneous timing over inherent connection).
- Mispronunciation: /ˈkɒŋ.kə.mɪ.tənt/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral. It describes an accompanying circumstance, which can be positive, negative, or neutral depending on context.
Yes, though less common than its adjectival use. As a noun, it means 'a phenomenon that naturally accompanies another' (e.g., 'Fever is a common concomitant of infection').
'Simultaneous' emphasises things happening at the exact same time. 'Concomitant' emphasises a logical connection or association, which may or may not be perfectly timed.
No, it is a formal, academic word. In everyday speech, words like 'related', 'accompanying', or 'connected' are more natural choices.
Something that naturally accompanies or is connected with something else.
Concomitant is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Concomitant: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈkɒm.ɪ.tənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈkɑː.mə.t̬ənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms feature this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CONnected COMpanion - a CONCOMitant is something that comes along as a companion to something else.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SHADOW (something that follows and is intrinsically linked to the main object).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'concomitant' in the sentence: 'The treatment has several concomitant benefits.'?