condition

1 of 2

noun

con·​di·​tion kən-ˈdi-shən How to pronounce condition (audio)
1
a
: a premise upon which the fulfillment of an agreement depends : stipulation
b
obsolete : covenant
c
: a provision making the effect of a legal instrument contingent upon an uncertain event
must meet the terms and conditions of the contract
also : the event itself
2
: something essential to the appearance or occurrence of something else : prerequisite: such as
a
: an environmental requirement
Available oxygen is an essential condition for animal life.
b
: the clause of a conditional sentence
3
a
: a restricting or modifying factor : qualification
b
: an unsatisfactory academic grade that may be raised by doing additional work
4
a
: a state of being
the human condition
b
: social status : rank
c
: a usually defective state of health
a serious heart condition
d
: a state of physical fitness or readiness for use
The car was in good condition.
exercising to get into condition
e
conditions plural : attendant circumstances
poor living conditions
safe working conditions
5
a
obsolete : temper of mind
b
obsolete : trait
c
conditions plural, archaic : manners, ways

condition

2 of 2

verb

conditioned; conditioning kən-ˈdi-sh(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce condition (audio)

intransitive verb

archaic : to make stipulations

transitive verb

1
: to agree by stipulating
2
: to make conditional
3
a
: to put into a proper state for work or use
4
: to give a grade of condition to
5
a
: to adapt, modify, or mold so as to conform to an environing culture
traditional beliefs conditioning a child's attitude
b
: to modify so that an act or response previously associated with one stimulus becomes associated with another
conditionable adjective

Examples of condition in a Sentence

Noun Happiness is the state or condition of being happy. Their weakened condition makes them more likely to get sick. Verb the length of time that it takes for runners to condition their bodies for a marathon a company that must condition its traditional ways of doing business to the realities of the global economy
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
One firefighter was transported to a hospital in fair condition and an occupant of the home sustained minor smoke inhalation, LAFD said. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 The new rules will take effect in July, according to a person close to the settlement negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the terms of the agreement. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 This status expedites the development and review of drugs that are intended to treat a serious condition and that preliminary clinical evidence indicates may be a substantial improvement over available therapies. Katherine Dillinger, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 At the time, the victim was reported to be in stable condition. David Chiu, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 Speaking on the condition of anonymity to openly discuss the problems, the officials acknowledged that other important assignments, such as restarting federal loan repayments and reopening schools after the coronavirus pandemic, used up vital resources. Zach Montague, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Police also set a condition for the rally that no more than 5,000 people would participate, the Press Trust of India news agency said. Rishi Lekhi and Ashok Sharma, Quartz, 14 Mar. 2024 For example, if a code for a condition that typically costs $5,000 to $7,000 to treat is assigned an estimate of $40,000, that’s an immediate red flag to check for fraud or plain old human error. Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 14 Mar. 2024 The boy was born with CHARGE syndrome, a rare genetic condition that affects several parts of a child's body, including the eyes, nerves, heart, nasal passages, genitals and ears, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 14 Mar. 2024
Verb
Just glide some on to condition and rejuvenate lips dehydrated by a day in the sun. Barbara Bellesi Zito, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024 But has resisted internal pressure from aides and Democratic allies to do more to restrain the Israeli campaign — which came after militant group Hamas’s invasion on southern Israel on Oct. 7 — let alone condition future military aid to the Jewish state. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 13 Feb. 2024 The state-of-the-art indoor facility in West Kendall offers indoor climbing, a sport that conditions balance, strength, flexibility and endurance. Miami Staff, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Western donors must more rigorously condition their aid on the good governance of security forces. Joseph Sany, Foreign Affairs, 30 Jan. 2024 Most are finished smooth, the felt shaved with fine abrasive papers, as well as conditioned and polished. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2024 As a consumer, I’ve been conditioned to prize the real deal, the genuine article. Bynick Rockel, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024 Lithium-ion battery installations must be continually air conditioned. Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 We have been conditioned, all these centuries later, to feel the same way. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 8 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'condition.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English condicion, from Anglo-French, from Latin condicion-, condicio terms of agreement, condition, from condicere to agree, from com- + dicere to say, determine — more at diction

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of condition was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near condition

Cite this Entry

“Condition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/condition. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

condition

1 of 2 noun
con·​di·​tion kən-ˈdish-ən How to pronounce condition (audio)
1
: something on which the carrying out of an agreement depends
conditions of employment
2
: something essential to the appearance or occurrence of something else
3
: something that limits or restricts : qualification
4
a
: a state of being
b
: position in life
people of humble condition
c
plural : state of affairs
poor living conditions
5
a
: a bodily state in which something is wrong
a serious heart condition
b
: a state of physical fitness or readiness for use
an athlete in good condition
the car was in poor condition

condition

2 of 2 verb
conditioned; conditioning
-ˈdish-(ə-)niŋ
1
: to put into a proper or desired condition
2
a
: to adapt, modify, or mold to respond in a particular way
b
: to change the behavior of (an organism) in such a way that a response to a given stimulus becomes connected with a different and formerly unrelated stimulus
dogs can be conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell

Medical Definition

condition

1 of 2 noun
con·​di·​tion kən-ˈdish-ən How to pronounce condition (audio)
1
: something essential to the appearance or occurrence of something else
especially : an environmental requirement
available oxygen is an essential condition for animal life
2
a
: a usually defective state of health
a serious heart condition
b
: a state of physical fitness
exercising to get into condition

condition

2 of 2 transitive verb
conditioned; conditioning -ˈdish-(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce condition (audio)
: to cause to undergo a change so that an act or response previously associated with one stimulus becomes associated with another
conditionable adjective

Legal Definition

condition

1 of 2 noun
con·​di·​tion
1
: an uncertain future act or event whose occurrence or nonoccurrence determines the rights or obligations of a party under a legal instrument and especially a contract
also : a clause in the instrument describing the act or event and its effect
concurrent condition
: a condition that is to be fulfilled by one party at the same time that a mutual condition is to be fulfilled by another party
condition implied in law
: constructive condition in this entry
condition precedent \ -​pri-​ˈsēd-​ᵊnt, -​ˈpre-​sə-​dənt \
: a condition that must be fulfilled before performance under a contract can become due, an estate can vest, or a right can become effective
condition subsequent
: a condition whose fulfillment defeats or modifies an estate or right already in effect or vested or discharges an already existing duty under a contract
constructive condition
: a condition created by operation of law

called also condition implied in law

compare express condition in this entry
express condition
: a condition created and explicitly stated by the parties to a contract compare constructive condition in this entry
potestative condition \ ˈpō-​tes-​ˌtā-​tiv \
in the civil law of Louisiana : a condition whose fulfillment was completely within the power of the obligated party

Note: Article 1770 of the Louisiana Civil Code eliminates the term potestative condition, stating that suspensive conditions which depend on the whim of the obligated party make the obligation null, and that resolutory conditions which depend on the will of the obligated party must be fulfilled in good faith.

resolutory condition \ ˌre-​zə-​ˈlü-​tə-​rē-​, ri-​ˈzäl-​yu̇-​ˌtōr-​ē-​ \
in the civil law of Louisiana : a condition that upon fulfillment terminates an already enforceable obligation and entitles the parties to be restored to their original positions see also potestative condition in this entry
suspensive condition
in the civil law of Louisiana : a condition which must be fulfilled before an obligation is enforceable see also potestative condition in this entry
2
: a state of being
a latent defective condition
3
: one of the rights or obligations of the policyholder or the insurer set forth in an insurance policy
conditional adjective
conditionally adverb

condition

2 of 2 transitive verb
conditioned; conditioning
: to make subject to conditions
the sale…was orally conditioned upon approval of the patentJ. D. Calamari and J. M. Perillo

More from Merriam-Webster on condition

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