noun
consequence
The quality of being important or influential.
The meeting concerns a matter of great consequence to the town.
Etymology
The Latin verb means to follow after. Something of consequence has effects that follow from it, making its presence or actions important to what happens next.
More examples
- His remarks were of little consequence.
- She became a person of consequence in local politics.
- The change had more consequence than we expected.
Forms
consequence
Similar words
- importance
- The plain term for how much something matters.
- significance
- Significance can concern meaning as well as importance.