condescension

noun

con·​de·​scen·​sion ˌkän-di-ˈsen(t)-shən 

1

: patronizing attitude or behavior

… scoffing condescension by the "we know better than you" people …

—A. J. Anderson

2

: voluntary descent from one's rank or dignity in relations with an inferior

Examples of condescension in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Horror still fights for respect, box office success still gets dismissed as commercial rather than artistic, and a movie made by a YouTube creator will face every condescension the awards ecosystem can muster. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 15 June 2026

But condescension has done Bellini’s reputation more harm than hostility ever could. —Arya Roshanian, The New York Review of Books, 6 June 2026

But Musk deserved such condescension, and the jurors did not. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 20 May 2026

But when Paul Baran pitched his idea to the company, the response was a mix of skepticism and condescension. —Laura Isensee, Scientific American, 18 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin condescension-, condescensio, from condescendere — see condescend

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for condescension

• apprehension
• comprehension
• hypertension
• hypotension
• reinvention
• reprehension
• resuspension
• attention
• contention
• convention
• declension
• detention

Kids Definition

condescension

noun

con·​de·​scen·​sion ˌkän-di-ˈsen-chən 

: the attitude or behavior of a person who condescends