consociation noun. [kɒnsǝʊʃɪ'eɪʃ(ǝ)n, -sǝʊsɪ-] L16.
[Latin consociatio(n-), formed as CONSOCIATE verb: see -ATION.]
1. The action or fact of associating together; combination. L16.

2. Fellowship, companionship (with). E17.

3. An alliance or confederation, esp. of Congregational or Presbyterian churches in an area. Now Hist. exc. US. E17.
b. A council of Congregational churchmen. US. L18.

4. Ecology. A small climax community or division of a plant association characterized by a single dominant species. E20.

5. A political system in which power is shared by representatives of different or antagonistic social groups. M20.

■ consociational adjective L19.

■ consociationalism noun the principle or practice of political consociation M20.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲