/ɹikəˌnsɪdɚˈeɪʃən/
Say it backReconsideration is the process of reviewing a decision or stance again, often after new information or reflection. It implies a deliberate pause to weigh options, typically involving careful analysis, potential modification of conclusions, and, in formal contexts, a formal request or ruling to re-evaluate previously settled matters.
"The board ordered a reconsideration of the policy after public feedback."
"She filed for reconsideration of her visa denial with additional documentation."
"During the hearing, the judge showed openness to reconsideration of the verdict."
Pronounce as ri‑con‑si·de·ra·tion with the primary stress on the third-to-last syllable: /ˌriː.kən.sɪ.dəˈreɪ.ʃən/ in US and /ˌriː.kən.sɪ.dəˈreɪ.ʃən/ in UK, and /ˌriː.kən.sɪ.dəˈreɪ.ʃən/ in AU. Break it into re-con-si-der-a-tion, placing emphasis on the der‑a‑tion segment. The sequence ‘con’ is unstressed; however, the high-stress element is on the -reɪ.ʃən portion in many accents. Lip rounding is mild, tongue high-mid for /ˈriː/ and /ˈreɪ/.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (often stressing early syllables), truncating the final -tion to -shn or -tion with reduced vowel, and merging the -der- and -a- into a single weak syllable. Corrective tips: keep /ˌriː.kən.sɪ.dəˈreɪ.ʃən/ with clear /ˈreɪ.ʃən/ at the end; articulate /ˈreɪ/ as a single stressed unit, and pronounce the /d/ in der distinctly between /sɪ/ and /də/. Practice slow deliberate enunciation of each segment.
In US: strong initial /riː/ and a rhotic /r/; UK/AU tend to slight vowel length changes in /ˈriː.kən.sɪ.dəˈreɪ.ʃən/ with less pronounced rhotics in non-rhotic varieties. UK often shows a shorter /ˈriː/ and less vowel lengthening in the final -tion; AU mirrors US with rhoticity more prominent in some speakers. Across all, the main stress remains on the -reɪ.ʃən portion, but vowel qualities and rhythm shift subtly. IPA guides help you map these shifts precisely.
Two main challenges: the long multi-syllabic sequence and the final -tion cluster /ˈreɪ.ʃən/. The three-part onset in /ˌriː.kən.sɪ.də/ followed by a stressed /ˈreɪ.ʃən/ demands careful pacing to avoid rushing the final syllables. The vowel quality of /ˈriː/ and /ˈreɪ/ requires maintaining length and clarity in rapid speech. Practicing slow-to-fast drills with syllable isolation helps stabilize rhythm and reduces trailing vowel reductions in connected speech.
A key feature is the secondary stress tendency on the -der- syllable in careful speech: ri-CON-si-DER-a-tion, especially when enunciating in formal contexts or legal discussions. This reinforces the word’s meaning as a deliberate reconsidering act. Additionally, ensure the /r/ is pronounced with a full American rhotic /ɹ/ or British non-rhotic depending on locale, and keep /ˈreɪ/ as a clear, tense vowel in the onset of the final stressed syllable.
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Reconsideration combines the prefix re- (“again, back,” from Latin re-) with consider, from Latin considerare, which means “to look at, examine, reflect.” The noun form -ation indicates the action or process. The sense arose in Middle English as the verb reconsider emerged (15th–16th centuries) to mean “to consider again or anew.” The -ation suffix then nominalizes the action. Over time, reconsideration broadened from legal and administrative contexts to everyday decision-making, retaining a formal tone in some usages (e.g., court reconsideration, policy reconsideration) while remaining common in personal deliberation. The word reflects the evolution of decision-making language toward careful, second-guessing of prior conclusions, often signaling a pause for more evidence or argument before final judgments. First known uses appear in early modern English texts analyzing governance, law, and organizational procedures, with sustained usage in bureaucratic and legal discourse into the contemporary era.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "reconsideration" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "reconsideration"
-ion sounds
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