consensus

UK: /kənˈsɛnsəs/ US: /kənˈsɛnsəs/ ,(kən sen′səs)

Inflections of 'consensus' (n): npl: consensuses

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•sen•sus /kənˈsɛnsəs/   n., pl. -sus•es. 

1. [countable* often singular] unanimous judgment or belief that a group comes to after discussion:
   The consensus was that they should meet twice a month.
2. general agreement;
   concord;
   harmony:
   [uncountable] You won't find consensus among the doctors on the best procedure for you.

See -sens-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

con•sen•sus  (kən sen′səs), n., pl. -sus•es. 

1. majority of opinion:
   The consensus of the group was that they should meet twice a month.
2. general agreement or concord;
   harmony.

• Latin, equivalent. to consent(īre) to be in agreement, harmony (con- con- + sentīre to feel; compare sense) + -tus suffix of verb, verbal action
• 1850–55

Usage

Many say that the phrase consensus of opinion is redundant and hence should be avoided:
The committee's statement represented a consensus of opinion.
The expression is redundant, however, only if consensus is taken in the sense "majority of opinion'' rather than in its equally valid and earlier sense "general agreement or concord.'' Criticism of consensus of opinion has been so persistent and widespread that the phrase, even though in common use, occurs only infrequently in edited formal writing. The phrase general consensus is objected to for similar reasons. Consensus is now widely used attributively, esp. in the phrase consensus politics.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

consensus / kənˈsɛnsəs/ noun

1. general or widespread agreement (esp in the phrase consensus of opinion)

Etymology: 19th Century: from Latin, from consentīre to feel together, agree; see consentUSAGE
Since consensus refers to a collective opinion, the words of opinion in the phrase consensus of opinion are redundant and should therefore be avoided