consol: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical, Financial
Quick answer
What does “consol” mean?
A British government bond with no maturity date, paying a fixed interest rate in perpetuity.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A British government bond with no maturity date, paying a fixed interest rate in perpetuity.
In historical and financial contexts, a perpetual bond issued by a government, particularly the UK government. More broadly, can refer to any consolidated annuity or long-term fixed-income security.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'consol' is primarily British, referring specifically to British government perpetual bonds. In American English, the concept exists but is typically referred to with different terminology (e.g., 'perpetual bond', 'perpetuity').
Connotations
In British English, it carries connotations of historical government finance, stability, and traditional investment. In American English, it is a highly specialized term with little recognition outside finance/economics.
Frequency
Very high frequency in UK financial/historical texts; extremely low to near-zero frequency in general American English.
Grammar
How to Use “consol” in a Sentence
to issue a consolto invest in consolsthe yield on the consol was...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “consol” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The consol market was active in the 19th century.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in finance and investment contexts regarding historical yields or perpetual debt instruments.
Academic
Used in economic history, financial history, and papers on government debt management.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Precise term in bond markets, fixed-income analysis, and historical finance.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “consol”
- Using 'consol' to mean 'console' (a device or to comfort).
- Assuming it is a common term for any bond.
- Pronouncing it like 'console' (/kənˈsəʊl/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are false friends. 'Consol' is short for 'consolidated annuity'. 'Console' comes from Latin 'consolari' (to comfort).
The UK government redeemed the last remaining consol issues in 2015. They are no longer available as new investments but exist only in historical context.
Extremely rarely. American professionals would use terms like 'perpetual bond' or 'perpetuity'. 'Consol' is distinctly British.
It is primarily a countable noun (e.g., 'a consol', 'several consols'). It can also function attributively as an adjective (e.g., 'consol market'). It is not a verb.
A British government bond with no maturity date, paying a fixed interest rate in perpetuity.
Consol is usually formal, technical, financial in register.
Consol: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒnsɒl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːnsɑːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As safe as consols (historical idiom implying supreme security).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CONsolidated government debt that SO Lid it never matures → CONSOL.
Conceptual Metaphor
DEBT IS A PERPETUAL BURDEN (the bond never matures, implying an endless obligation).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'consol' primarily?