Consultant

/kənˈsʌltənt/

nounIntermediate📊CommonAcademic
1 meaning2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

1

A person who provides expert advice professionally, especially in a specialized field.

/kənˈsʌltənt/

nounneutralIntermediate
Academic

A professional who provides expert advice in a specific field.

The marketing consultant helped the company improve its advertising strategy.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're building a treehouse, but you're not sure where to start. A consultant is like a helpful expert who knows all about treehouses and can give you advice on how to build the coolest one! They use their knowledge to make sure you make smart choices.

👶 For kids: Someone who is like a helper for grown-ups! They give advice about a special job.

More Examples

2

We hired a financial consultant to advise us on our investments.

3

The project manager consulted with the IT consultant to solve the software issue.

How It's Used

Business

"The company hired a management consultant to improve its efficiency."

Healthcare

"The patient was referred to a neurological consultant for further diagnosis."

Technology

"A cybersecurity consultant helped the firm strengthen its digital defenses."

Synonyms & Antonyms

Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

consultant's report

A detailed document prepared by a consultant outlining findings, analysis, and recommendations.

"The CEO was waiting to read the consultant's report before making any decisions about the restructuring."

consultant fee

The payment received by a consultant for their services.

"The consultant fee was a significant portion of the project budget."

From Latin *consultare* 'to deliberate, advise,' from *consulere* 'to consult, consider.' The word evolved to describe someone who gives professional advice.

The word's use became more prominent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with the rise of professional advisory services in business and industry.

Memory tip

Think of someone who helps 'con'sult' you on important decisions.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to consult, consider, deliberate"

management consultantfinancial consultantIT consultantconsultant's reportconsultant fee

Common misspellings

consltantconsultentconsulatant

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written