consensus-seeker
|con-sen-sus-seek-er|
🇺🇸
/kənˈsɛnsəsˈsiːkɚ/
🇬🇧
/kənˈsɛnsəsˈsiːkə/
person pursuing agreement
Etymology
'consensus-seeker' is a compound formed from 'consensus' (Latin 'consensus') and 'seeker' (from English 'seek').
'consensus' entered English from Latin 'consensus' (from the verb 'consentire' meaning 'feel together'); 'seeker' derives from Old English 'sēcan' (to seek) → Middle English 'seken' → modern English 'seek' + agentive '-er'. The compound 'consensus-seeker' is a modern English formation combining these elements.
Individually the components have retained their basic meanings ('consensus' = general agreement; 'seek' = try to obtain), but when combined the compound specifically denotes a person focused on achieving agreement.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who actively works to build agreement among members of a group or to secure general approval for a decision.
As a consensus-seeker, she mediated the meeting to help everyone reach an agreement.
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Noun 2
someone (often used with mild disapproval) who prioritizes agreement or avoiding conflict over taking decisive action or raising necessary objections.
Critics called him a consensus-seeker because he watered down proposals to avoid disagreement.
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Last updated: 2025/10/31 00:30