n.
Pronunciation: k ə n- ' sen(t)-s ə s
Function: noun
Usage: often attrib
Etymology: Latin, from consentire
Date: 1843
1 a : general agreement : UNANIMITY <the consensus of their opinion, based on reports ⋯ from the border ― John Hersey> b : the judgment arrived at by most of those concerned <the consensus was to go ahead>
2 : group solidarity in sentiment and belief
usage The phrase consensus of opinion, which is not actually redundant (see sense 1a; the sense that takes the phrase is slightly older), has been so often claimed to be a redundancy that many writers avoid it. You are safe in using consensus alone when it is clear you mean consensus of opinion, and most writers in fact do so.