noun

consensus-building

say it: KON·SEN·sus·BUILD·ing

working toward general agreement

In Debate & Persuasion

In more detail

1. (noun) the process of trying to reach agreement among people with different opinions or interests

2. (noun) the method of making decisions by seeking general agreement rather than majority voting

Examples

1. The team focused on consensus-building before making the final decision.
2. Consensus-building takes time but often leads to better solutions that everyone accepts.

How to use consensus-building

Consensus-building refers to the deliberate process of seeking broad agreement, commonly used in organizational, political, and diplomatic contexts. It emphasizes inclusivity and negotiation over quick decisions. The term implies time investment and commitment to addressing diverse viewpoints.

Common phrases

consensus-building process
consensus-building efforts
consensus-building approach
engage in consensus-building
consensus-building exercise
strong consensus-building skills

Synonyms

reaching agreement · finding common ground · compromise-seeking · stakeholder engagement · collaborative decision-making

Opposites

majority voting · unilateral decision · top-down directive

Word family

consensus (noun) · consensus-builder (noun) · build consensus (verb phrase)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes treat consensus-building as a single voting method, when it is actually an extended process that may or may not result in true consensus.

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