Meaning & use
consummation
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountableformal
The point at which something long desired or planned is finally completed or achieved.
Grammar: Usually uncountable: the consummation of the deal.
Patterns
- the consummation of something
- the consummation of years of work
The treaty was the consummation of years of talks.
Finishing the cathedral was the consummation of her life's work.
The merger's consummation was celebrated at dinner.
noununcountablelegal
The first act of sexual intercourse that makes a marriage complete in law or tradition.
Grammar: Used mostly in legal and religious contexts: consummation of a marriage.
Patterns
- consummation of a marriage
Some old laws required consummation for a marriage to be valid.
The annulment was based on lack of consummation.
The court discussed the consummation of the marriage.
Word forms
| plural | consummations |
|---|
Common combinations
- consummation of a marriage
- The consummation of the marriage was a legal issue.
- final consummation
- The bridge opened as the final consummation of the plan.
- devoutly to be wished consummation
- Peace was a consummation devoutly wished by all.
- consummation of a deal
- The consummation of the deal took months.
- awaiting consummation
- The agreement is awaiting consummation.
Synonyms and how they differ
- completion
- Completion is plain and neutral, while consummation suggests a long-awaited, satisfying finish.
- fulfillment
- Fulfillment emphasizes satisfying a wish or promise, whereas consummation emphasizes the final act.
- culmination
- Culmination is the highest point of a process, not necessarily its formal completion.
- realization
- Realization means a goal becoming real; it is less formal and less ceremonial.
Opposites
Word family
- consummate verb
- to complete or make perfect
- consummate adjective
- perfectly skilled, as in a consummate professional
- consummately adverb
- in a perfectly skilled way
- consummated adjective
- fully completed
Commonly confused: consummation or consumption?
consummation vs consumption
Consumption is using up or eating something; consummation is the completion of something. They sound alike and are often mixed up.
Practice
The signing of the peace treaty was the ______ of years of negotiation.
Choose one answer.
Consummation is the final completion of a long process. Consumption and consolation are similar-sounding but have different meanings.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “consummation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.