the absence of agreement or the presence of disagreement among individuals, groups, or organizations. It often arises when people hold different opinions, values, beliefs, or interests and are unable to reach a shared understanding or common ground. Unlike simple debate, dissensus highlights persistent differences that may shape decisions, processes, or outcomes.
Synonyms: Disagreement, Conflict of Opinion, Dissent, Lack of Consensus
Example
During the development of a core outcome set, a working group experiences dissensus when patients emphasize the importance of fatigue as a domain, while clinicians argue it should not be prioritized. The lack of agreement requires further rounds of discussion and structured consensus methods (e.g., Delphi surveys) to resolve.