consensus

Agreement shared by most or all people in a group.

• We finally reached a consensus.
• There is no consensus on the best solution.
• The consensus among doctors is that regular exercise helps.

How to use it: consensus on/about something (There is broad consensus on the need for change.); consensus among people (A consensus emerged among the researchers.); consensus that… (The consensus is that the plan will work.)

Similar words: agreement

Opposites: disagreement

Common phrases: reach a consensus, broad consensus, consensus on something

A way of making group decisions by seeking broad agreement and resolving objections rather than simply counting votes.

• We use consensus to make decisions.
• Consensus gives each member a chance to raise objections.
• The committee adopted a consensus process instead of majority voting.

How to use it: by consensus (The group makes decisions by consensus.)

Similar words: consensus decision-making

Common phrases: by consensus, consensus decision making, consensus process

The average of several experts’ predictions, especially about money or business results.

• Profits were above consensus.
• The consensus forecast puts annual growth at two percent.
• Sales fell short of the analysts’ consensus estimate.

Similar words: average forecast, average estimate

Common phrases: consensus forecast, consensus estimate, above consensus