Consultation vs Meeting

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Consultation

Top 2,000 (common)C1noun

Meeting

Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Most common: Meeting
 ConsultationMeeting
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˌkɒnslˈteɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌkɑːnslˈteɪʃn/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ˈmiːtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmiːtɪŋ/"]/
MeaningA meeting to discuss something or get advice.A gathering of people to discuss something.
ExampleThe company held a consultation with experts before launching the new product.We scheduled a meeting for tomorrow morning.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR levelC1A1
Part of speechnounnoun
Collocationsclose, extensive, full, have, hold, document, paper, period, in consultation with, without consultation, consultation about, close, extensive, full, have, hold, document, paper, period, in consultation with, without consultation, consultation about, personal, private, free, have, provide, seek, service, fee, consultation withfrequent, regular, annual, series, have, hold, arrange, go ahead, happen, occur, facilities, hall, house, in a/​the meeting, meeting about, meeting among, the purpose of a meeting, the minutes of a meeting, the chair of a meeting, frequent, regular, annual, series, have, hold, arrange, go ahead, happen, occur, facilities, hall, house, in a/​the meeting, meeting about, meeting among, the purpose of a meeting, the minutes of a meeting, the chair of a meeting, accidental, chance, unexpected, have, meeting with
Antonymsdisagreement, argumentdispersal, separation
Common mistakesConfused with 'consult' — 'consultation' is the noun form., Using 'consultation' when referring to casual advice., Omitting the preposition (e.g., saying 'consultation the issue' instead of 'consultation on the issue').Confused with 'meting' which is not a word., Used as a verb instead of a noun., Forget to clarify the purpose of the meeting.
Usage notesUse 'consultation' when talking about professional advice or meetings. It's appropriate in medical, legal, or academic contexts but may sound overly formal in casual discussions.Use 'meeting' in both formal and informal contexts. Suitable for work, school, or casual gatherings. Avoid in casual conversations where 'hangout' or 'get-together' might feel more natural.

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Consultation
Meeting

Frequently asked questions: Consultation vs Meeting

What's the difference between Consultation and Meeting?

Consultation: A meeting to discuss something or get advice. Meeting: A gathering of people to discuss something.

Which is more common: Consultation and Meeting?

Meeting is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Consultation and Meeting?

Consultation is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Consultation and Meeting the same CEFR level?

Consultation: C1, Meeting: A1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Consultation and Meeting?

Consultation: noun, Meeting: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Consultation: The company held a consultation with experts before launching the new product. Meeting: We scheduled a meeting for tomorrow morning.

Can I use Consultation and Meeting interchangeably?

Not always. Consultation and Meeting are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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