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consolidation
/kənˌsɒlɪˈdeɪʃən/
unification into a whole
The company announced a consolidation of its regional branches into a single headquarters.
The company is merging its separate regional offices into one central location.
Business
formal
The process of combining multiple entities into a single, stronger unit
After the merger, the consolidation of the two firms reduced operational costs by 30%.
Merging the two companies led to significant cost savings.
Often used in mergers and acquisitions to describe structural changes.
Technology
technical
Strengthening or reinforcement of something through integration
The consolidation of data from multiple servers improved system efficiency.
Combining data from different servers made the system run more smoothly.
In IT, refers to merging data or systems to improve performance.
Law
formal
Legal process of combining debts or legal cases
The court approved the consolidation of the two lawsuits into a single trial.
The judge combined the separate lawsuits into one case for efficiency.
Common in litigation to streamline proceedings.
technical
Psychological process of integrating past experiences into one's identity
Therapy helped her achieve consolidation of her fragmented memories.
Through therapy, she integrated her scattered memories into a coherent self.
Refers to the mental process of making sense of past events.
Collocations
debt consolidationcombining multiple debts into one paymentdata consolidationmerging data from different sourcescorporate consolidationmerger of companies into a single entity
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Distinguish consolidation from merger
Consolidation implies a stronger, unified outcome, while a merger may retain separate identities under one umbrella.
Gold Rule
Use consolidation for positive outcomes
The term often suggests improvement or strengthening, unlike 'fragmentation' or 'division'.
Word Origin
From Latin *consolidatio(n-)*, from *consolidare* 'to make firm' (*con-* 'together' + *solidare* 'to make solid', from *solidus* 'firm, solid'). First used in English in the 16th century.
Usage Notes
Common in formal and technical contexts; avoid using for informal situations where 'merging' or 'combining' would suffice.
Word Breakdown
con-
together
prefixsolid
firm, strong
root-ation
action or process
suffixEnglish Dictionary