consequence

/ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwɛns/

//ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwɛns// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"consequence" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“consequence” has 17 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #6,347. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#6,347
frequency rank, English
5,599
“C” headwords
17
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - An effect; something that follows a cause as a result.

Corpus desk

Index EN-consequence · consequence · English

consequence · rank #6,347 · 17 variants · 2 confusables

  • FREQ-COMMON #6,347
  • LEN-MEGA 11 letters
  • VOW-5 5 vowels
  • CONFUS-LOW 2 pairs
  • VAR-HIGH 17 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 5,599
  • PHOTO-FINISH conducting

Nearest frequency peer: conducting (-1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Rank peers near misspelling magnet “consequence”

Same rarity band: useful when a typo lands on a peer headword

corpus weight

What this shows “consequence” sits among these FrequencyWords peers; misspelling depth is tracked separately in the edit-distance chart.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

consequence vs consequent
82% similar
consequence vs consequences
92% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for consequence
PropertyValue
Headwordconsequence
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwɛns/
Letters11
Frequency rank#6,347
Misspellings tracked17
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Frequency seat of misspelling magnet “consequence”

This scale runs from the tiny cluster of words that carry ordinary speech (left) to the long tail of words almost nobody reaches for (right).consequencelands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Same rarity band neighbours include “conducting” (#6,346), “continent” (#6,348), “concentrate” (#6,345). Among 5,599 “C” headwords, “consequence” is #6,347. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 17 spelling variants around consequence (IPA /ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwɛns/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #6,347 among 5,599 “C” headwords. Wiktionary lists 5 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 17 likely wrong-spelling variants for consequence, with forms such as "cconsequence", "cnosequence", and "conesquence". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "consequent", "consequences", a pairing that trips writers up because the two words share enough sound or shape to blur together.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English consequence, from Old French consequence, from Latin consequentia. While analysable as con- + sequence, its adjective form has a different origin. The correct English form is consequence, spelled C-O-N-S-E-Q-U-E-N-C-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    An effect; something that follows a cause as a result.
  2. 2
    An effect; something that follows a cause as a result.
  3. 3
    consecution; chain of causes and effects.
  4. 4
    conclusion, deduction or inference; the thing concluded.
  5. 5
    Importance, influence, or significance.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how consequence appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. The lobule margins, furthermore, are arched away from the lobe, with the consequence that (when fully inflated) the abaxial leaf surface forms the interior lining of the lobule.
  2. I'm warning you. If you don't get me the report on time, there will be consequences.

Etymology

From Middle English consequence, from Old French consequence, from Latin consequentia. While analysable as con- + sequence, its adjective form has a different origin.

Synonyms

aftercomerepercussionmomentdistinctionrankvalueimplication

This word in other languages

consecuencia(Español)conséquence(Français)Konsequenz(Deutsch)consequência(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • cconsequence
  • cnosequence
  • conesquence
  • connsequence
  • conseqeunce
  • conseqquence
  • consequance
  • consequecne
  • consequencce
  • consequenec
  • consequennce
  • consequnece
  • conseuqence
  • consqeuence
  • conssequence
  • cosnequence
  • ocnsequence

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of consequence - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

cconsequence1cnosequence2conesquence2connsequence1conseqeunce2conseqquence1consequance1consequecne2
Edit distance from "consequence"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "consequence"?
"consequence" is spelled C-O-N-S-E-Q-U-E-N-C-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwɛns/.
What does "consequence" mean?
As a noun, "consequence" means: An effect; something that follows a cause as a result.
What words are commonly confused with "consequence"?
"consequence" is commonly confused with "consequent", "consequences". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "consequence"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "consequence" is /ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwɛns/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "consequence"?
From Middle English consequence, from Old French consequence, from Latin consequentia. While analysable as con- + sequence, its adjective form has a different origin. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "consequence", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 11 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

concentrate#6,345inhabitants#6,367transformed#6,309permanently#6,279

Similar misspelling depth

Headwords with a similar count of attested misspellings (17 here; floor ≥5).

historically17 variantsprosecution17 variantsspectacular17 variantstemporarily17 variants

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list