majority of opinion: The consensus of the group was that they should meet twice a month.
general agreement or concord; harmony.
Origin of consensus
1850–55; <Latin, equivalent to consent(īre) to be in agreement, harmony (con-con- + sentīre to feel; cf. sense) + -tus suffix of v. action
usage note for consensus
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, especially in the phrase consensus politics.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH consensus
census, consensus (see usage note at the current entry)
“The intelligence community consensus is that Russia continues to try to influence our elections,” Wray said.
Election live updates: Trump returns to Wisconsin; Biden to face live audience at town hall|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
Step one was trying to form consensus, and step two was tbd.
The Trailer: The First State goes last|David Weigel|September 15, 2020|Washington Post
There’s a broad consensus among bond investors that if rates on longer-term government debt start to creep up, as they’ve occasionally threatened to, then the Fed can and will step in.
America’s $20 trillion debt is getting cheaper as it grows|McKenna Moore|September 12, 2020|Fortune
The overwhelming consensus of the scientific community was to call into question the credibility of the president’s statement.
On COVID-19 vaccines, Big Pharma knows to just say ‘no’|matthewheimer|September 11, 2020|Fortune
At the same time, he added, “There’s already a sort of consensus developing that if any country develops a vaccine, of course they’ll keep a higher proportion for within their country.”
More than manufacturing: India’s homegrown COVID vaccines could transform its pharma industry|Naomi Xu Elegant|September 6, 2020|Fortune
But there is no consensus about what the attrition of ISIS looks like.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War|Nancy A. Youssef|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It all began, the consensus seems to be, with the red jungle fowl.
The History of the Chicken: How This Humble Bird Saved Humanity|William O’Connor|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The consensus leans toward forbidding it, though some people of knowledge think it permissible.
ISIS Jihadis Get ‘Slavery for Dummies’|Jamie Dettmer|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The consensus among the legal establishment is that Wilson will not be indicted.
Ferguson Tensions in Black and White|Seth Ferranti|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fifty years later, the Reagan consensus prevails, it seems to me, more so than Roosevelt consensus.
This Republican Loved Taxes & Modern Art|Scott Porch|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was the consensus of opinion that the only thing that prevented his swimming was his curls.
Watch Yourself Go By|Al. G. Field
The Negros chief danger lies in a consensus of evil opinion concerning him.
The Soul of John Brown|Stephen Graham
Did it depend on legend alone we might, however strong the consensus of testimony, harbor some doubt about it.
American Hero-Myths|Daniel G. Brinton
The consensus of opinion before the Committee is that there is a lack of spiritual values in the community.
Report of the Special Committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents|Oswald Chettle Mazengarb et al.
The consensus in illusion was wonderful, but let us grant, for the sake of argument, that it was possible.
Cock Lane and Common-Sense|Andrew Lang
British Dictionary definitions for consensus
consensus
/ (kənˈsɛnsəs) /
noun
general or widespread agreement (esp in the phrase consensus of opinion)
Word Origin for consensus
C19: from Latin, from consentīre to feel together, agree; see consent
usage for consensus
Since consensus refers to a collective opinion, the words of opinion in the phrase consensus of opinion are redundant and should therefore be avoided