conditional

¹con·di·tion·al

adjective \kən-ˈdish-nəl, -ˈdi-shə-n^əl\

Definition of CONDITIONAL

1

: subject to, implying, or dependent upon a condition <a conditional promise>

2

: expressing, containing, or implying a supposition <the conditional clause if he speaks>

3

a : true only for certain values of the variables or symbols involved <conditional equations>

b : stating the case when one or more random variables are fixed or one or more events are known <conditional frequency distribution>

4

a : conditioned 2 <conditional reflex> <conditional response>

b : established by conditioning as the stimulus eliciting a conditional response

— con·di·tion·al·i·ty \-ˌdi-shə-ˈna-lə-tē\ noun

— con·di·tion·al·ly \-ˈdish-nə-lē, -ˈdi-shə-nə-lē\ adverb

Examples of CONDITIONAL

1. “If she speaks, you must listen” is a conditional sentence.
2. The sentence contains the conditional clause “if she speaks.”

First Known Use of CONDITIONAL

14th century

Related to CONDITIONAL

Synonyms

dependent, contingent (on or upon), subject (to), tentative

Antonyms

independent, unconditional

Related Words

liable, open, susceptible; limited, modified, qualified, restricted; debatable, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, iffy, problematic (also problematical), questionable, shady, shaky, suspect, uncertain

Near Antonyms

absolute, all-out, arrant, categorical (also categoric), complete, consummate, out-and-out, outright, perfect, simple, total, ultimate, unadulterated, unalloyed, unconditional, unequivocal, unmitigated, unqualified, utter; basal, basic, fundamental, primary

Rhymes with CONDITIONAL

additional, cognitional, coitional, nutritional, traditional, transitional, tuitional, volitional

²conditional

noun

Definition of CONDITIONAL

1

: a conditional word, clause, verb form, or morpheme

2

: implication 2b

Examples of CONDITIONAL

1. The clause “if she speaks” is a conditional.
2. The conditional is often marked by the word “if.”

First Known Use of CONDITIONAL

1828

con·di·tion·al

adjective \kən-ˈdish-nəl, -ən-^əl\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of CONDITIONAL

1

a : conditioned <conditional reflex> <conditional response> b : eliciting a conditional response <a conditional stimulus>

2

: permitting survival only under special growth or environmental conditions <conditional lethal mutations>

—con·di·tion·al·ly \-ˈdish-nə-lē, -ən-^əl-ē\ (audio pronunciation) adverb