conditional

adjective

con·di·tion·al | \ kən-ˈdish-nəl

, -ˈdi-shə-nᵊl\

Definition of conditional

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

3a : 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

4a : conditioned sense 2 conditional reflex conditional response

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

conditional

noun

Definition of conditional (Entry 2 of 2)

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

2 : implication sense 2b

Other Words from conditional Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about conditional

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Other Words from conditional

Adjective

conditionality \ kən-ˌdi-shə-ˈna-lə-tē

\ noun

conditionally \ kən-ˈdish-nə-lē

, -ˈdi-shə-nə-lē \ adverb

Synonyms & Antonyms for conditional

Synonyms: Adjective

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

Antonyms: Adjective

independent, unconditional

Examples of conditional in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Photo: Michael Satchwell Their offers were conditional on background checks and drug tests, said Mr. Bruce, who has since left the job to pursue a degree in graphic design. — Chip Cutter, WSJ, "Yes, You’re Hired. No, We Don’t Need to Meet You First.," 15 Nov. 2018 Some critics say her approval of work requirements—which makes Medicaid conditional on some beneficiaries being employed, in job training, or involved in community service—has led to a decrease in coverage. — Stephanie Armour, WSJ, "Blue States Set to Test Trump Official on Medicaid, ACA," 10 Feb. 2019 For perspective, over the past ten years, the Minnesota DHS has issued only three conditional licenses for child placement agencies. — Glamour, "Broken Harts, Episode 6: "Beautiful Black Boys"," 15 Jan. 2019 Visas would be available without limit for highly skilled workers sponsored by an employer, with entry in most cases conditional on earning at least £30,000 a year. — Jason Douglas, WSJ, "Britain and EU Plan for Brexit Breakdown," 19 Dec. 2018 Vote centers offer conditional voter registration, in-person voting, replacement of vote-by-mail ballots and voting assistance. — Diana Lambert And Jordan Cutler-tietjen, sacbee, "'The pomp and circumstance of voting is missing.' Some are sad without Sacramento polling places," 6 June 2018 The agency took his case, filing a complaint accusing the company of violating city and state laws by running a background check on Mr. Ramos before making a conditional offer. — Zolan Kanno-youngs, WSJ, "‘I Thought I Was Done For’: Tight Job Market Opens Doors for Ex-Convicts," 19 Dec. 2018 The Johns Creek City Council has given conditional approval to the rezoning of a 9.2-acre site at McGinnis Ferry and Bell roads for 42 fee-simple townhomes and a 12,350-square-foot commercial building. — David Ibata, ajc, "Johns Creek OKs townhomes on McGinnis Ferry," 29 June 2018 There are currently three pot shops in downtown Anchorage, but three more have conditional approval. — Devin Kelly, Anchorage Daily News, "Museum and pot shop proposed for old Crush Wine Bistro building in downtown Anchorage," 22 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

All of those conditionals, again, stem from the fact that these materials don't yet exist, at least not in quantity, and even 2030 might not be a long enough timeline to find and mass-produce them. — Brian Barrett, WIRED, "Lego Builds a Sustainable Future, One Brick at a Time," 11 Mar. 2018 Batuman writes; Nina’s reality remains untroubled by conditionals and subjunctives. — Katy Waldman, Slate Magazine, "Elif Batuman sets out to write a novel as chaotic, random, and intoxicating as real life.," 20 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conditional.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.