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
3a : true only for certain values of the variables or symbols involved conditional equationsb : stating the case when one or more random variables are fixed or one or more events are known conditional frequency distribution
4a : conditioned 2 conditional reflex conditional responseb : established by conditioning as the stimulus eliciting a conditional response
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Examples of conditional in a Sentence
“If she speaks, you must listen” is a conditional sentence.
The sentence contains the conditional clause “if she speaks.”
14th Century
First Known Use of conditional
14th century
conditional
Definition of conditional
1 : a conditional word, clause, verb form, or morpheme
2 : implication 2b
Examples of conditional in a Sentence
The clause “if she speaks” is a conditional.
The conditional is often marked by the word “if.”
1828
First Known Use of conditional
1828
CONDITIONAL Defined for English Language Learners
conditional
playDefinition of conditional for English Language Learners
-
grammar : showing or used to show that something is true or happens only if something else is true or happens
conditional
Definition of conditional for English Language Learners
-
: a word, clause, or sentence that shows that something is true or happens only if something else is true or happens
-
the conditional : the mood or form that is used to say that something is true or happens only if something else is true or happens
CONDITIONAL Defined for Kids
conditional
playDefinition of conditional for Students
: of or relating to something that will happen only if something else happens a conditional promise
Medical Dictionary
conditional
playMedical Definition of conditional
1a: conditioned conditional reflex conditional responseb: eliciting a conditional response a conditional stimulus
2: permitting survival only under special growth or environmental conditions conditional lethal mutations
Learn More about conditional
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for conditional Spanish Central: Translation of conditional Nglish: Translation of conditional for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of conditional for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up conditional? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!