consort: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, historical, literary
Quick answer
What does “consort” mean?
(As a noun) A wife, husband, or companion, especially of a reigning monarch. (As a verb) To associate with, especially in a way that suggests partnership or accompaniment.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
(As a noun) A wife, husband, or companion, especially of a reigning monarch. (As a verb) To associate with, especially in a way that suggests partnership or accompaniment.
(Noun) A small group of musicians playing together, historically of similar instruments. (Verb) To be in agreement or harmony with something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally formal and low-frequency in both varieties. In UK contexts, 'consort' (noun) is more commonly seen in historical/royal reporting (e.g., 'Prince Consort').
Connotations
Slightly more associated with British monarchy and history.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both regions; slightly higher visibility in UK media due to the monarchy.
Grammar
How to Use “consort” in a Sentence
[VERB] consort with [NOUN/PERSON/ENTITY] (often negative)[NOUN] + consort (official title)[VERB] to be in consort withVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “consort” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was warned not to consort with known radicals.
- The modern extension consorts awkwardly with the Georgian façade.
American English
- Prosecutors claimed he consorted with members of the mob.
- The bold colours don't really consort with the room's minimalist aesthetic.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No adverb form.)
American English
- N/A (No adverb form.)
adjective
British English
- N/A (No standard adjective form. 'Consort' is not used as an adjective.)
American English
- N/A (No standard adjective form. 'Consort' is not used as an adjective.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in a metaphorical sense: 'The company's strategy does not consort with its stated values.'
Academic
Used in historical/political studies (royal consorts) and musicology (Renaissance consort of viols).
Everyday
Very rare. Most likely encountered in news about royalty or in literature.
Technical
Music: A specific ensemble of period instruments (e.g., a chest of viols).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “consort”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “consort”
- Mispronouncing the verb as /ˈkɒnsɔːt/ (noun stress). The verb stress is on the second syllable.
- Using it as a common synonym for 'friend' or 'spouse' in non-formal/royal contexts.
- Confusing spelling with 'concert'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A queen who is a 'queen consort' is the wife of a reigning king and does not hold the monarch's political power in her own right. A 'queen regnant' is a woman who reigns as monarch herself.
No, but it often carries a negative or disapproving tone when referring to people ('consort with criminals'). It can be neutral or positive when referring to abstract harmony ('colours that consort well').
In modern usage, it is almost exclusively used for the spouses of royalty or, in historical contexts, rulers. It sounds very archaic or humorous if used for an everyday spouse.
Remember the pattern similar to 'record' or 'present'. The noun has stress on the first syllable (CON-sort), and the verb has stress on the last syllable (con-SORT).
(As a noun) A wife, husband, or companion, especially of a reigning monarch. (As a verb) To associate with, especially in a way that suggests partnership or accompaniment.
Consort is usually formal, historical, literary in register.
Consort: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒnsɔːt/ (noun), /kənˈsɔːt/ (verb), and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːnsɔːrt/ (noun), /kənˈsɔːrt/ (verb). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in consort (with) = in partnership or association with”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a king's CONSORT sitting at his side in a CONSORTium (a partnership). To consort is to join that 'side' or group.
Conceptual Metaphor
PARTNERSHIP IS PROXIMITY / AGREEMENT IS HARMONY (The verb implies moving together in a social or conceptual space).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'consort' used most appropriately?