consilience

C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /kənˈsɪ.li.əns/ UK /kənˈsɪ.li.əns/ See IPA manual

Freq #1250208

Meanings

1

noun
agreement between conclusions reached independently from different kinds of evidence

The consilience of genetic, fossil, and geological evidence strongly supports the theory.
2

noun
the linking or unification of principles and knowledge across academic disciplines

The project sought consilience between neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · agreement between... convergence corroboration agreement

2 noun · the linking or unification... unification integrationinterdisciplinarity

Opposites

incompatibility divergence contradiction

Word family

Derived forms consilientconsiliently

Related forms converge resilience salient

Etymology

Coined by William Whewell in 1840 from Latin con-, 'together,' and salire, 'to leap,' plus -ence. Whewell used it for independent lines of induction that 'jump together' in support of one conclusion; later writers extended it to unity across disciplines.

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# consilience

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /kənˈsɪ.li.əns/
**IPA (UK):** /kənˈsɪ.li.əns/
**Frequency rank:** 1250208

## Meanings
1. agreement between conclusions reached independently from different kinds of evidence
2. the linking or unification of principles and knowledge across academic disciplines

## Examples
- The consilience of genetic, fossil, and geological evidence strongly supports the theory.
- The project sought consilience between neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy.

## Synonyms
- convergence
- corroboration
- unification

## Antonyms
- incompatibility
- divergence
- contradiction

## Derived Forms
- consilient
- consiliently

## Related Forms
- converge
- resilience
- salient

## Etymology
Coined by William Whewell in 1840 from Latin con-, 'together,' and salire, 'to leap,' plus -ence. Whewell used it for independent lines of induction that 'jump together' in support of one conclusion; later writers extended it to unity across disciplines.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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