Combined with backstepping techniques, an observer-based adaptive consensus tracking control strategy is developed for a class of high-order nonlinear multiagent systems, of which each follower agent is modeled in a semi-strict-feedback form. By constructing the neural network-based state observer for each follower, the proposed consensus control method solves the unmeasurable state problem of high-order nonlinear multiagent systems. The control algorithm can guarantee that all signals of the multiagent system are semi-globally uniformly ultimately bounded and all outputs can synchronously track a reference signal to a desired accuracy. A simulation example is carried out to further demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed consensus control method. © 2015 IEEE.