A corollary is what naturally follows from something that's already been established. Think of it like the next domino in a chain: once the first one falls, the rest are inevitable. If it rains hard enough, a corollary is that the streets flood. If you study consistently, a corollary is that your grades improve.
📚️ Definition of Corollary
Corollary (noun): A proposition or conclusion that follows naturally and directly from one already proven or accepted; a natural consequence or result. Also used as an adjective meaning “forming a natural consequence.” Corollary can also be used to mean something that occurs in parallel with something else. Example: higher demand is a corollary of limited supply.
🗣️ Pronunciation of Corollary
IPA: /ˈkɔːr.ə.ler.i/ (See IPA key)
Respelling: KOR-uh-lair-ee
📰 Examples of Corollary
Here are some examples of the word corollary:
If you skip breakfast every morning, a natural corollary is that by noon, you’ll start seeing everything as food.
Parkinson’s Law states that “Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” Its corollary is that the amount of money spent on a project increases with the amount available to spend.
If every action has consequences, then the corollary is that every inaction also has consequences, too.
🎨 Vocab Card
For paid subscribers, I offer a custom image to help remember the word. You can see myriad examples of the graphics I make to illustrate the words in the archives.
Once more: COROLLARY most nearly means: A) pathway; B) intention; C) precursor; 👉️ D) consequence. 👈️
🧠 Summary of Corollary
Definition: Corollary means a natural consequence, result, or conclusion that follows logically and directly from something already established or proven or occurs at the same time.
Real-world connection: You’ll encounter this word in math (following a theorem), in science (a logical result of a law), in law (a principle that follows from a ruling), and in everyday reasoning whenever one fact leads naturally to another or one thing happens when something else happens.
SAT relevance: Corollary is a high-value SAT word that could appear in vocabulary-in-context questions, especially within science or argument-based reading passages. It also shows up in answer choices describing logical relationships, making it essential for both the Reading and Writing sections.
