conditional

adjective con·di·tion·al \ kən-ˈdish-nəl , -ˈdi-shə-nᵊl \

|Updated on: 10 Jun 2018

Examples: conditional in a Sentence

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

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conditionality

play \kən-ˌdi-shə-ˈna-lə-tē\ noun

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conditionally

play \kən-ˈdish-nə-lē, -ˈdi-shə-nə-lē\ adverb

See conditional defined for English-language learners

See conditional defined for kids

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.”

Recent Examples of conditional from the Web

New Orleans eventually shipped the former All-Pro to the Cardinals for a conditional draft pick.

— peter dawson, star-telegram, "Report: Free agent Adrian Peterson says he'd fit on these NFC teams...," 29 May 2018
The Bucks sent Allen, Kevin Ollie, Ron Murray and a conditional draft pick to Seattle for Gary Payton and Desmond Mason.

— gary d'amato, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "D'Amato: Ray Allen never understood why George Karl didn't like him," 17 Apr. 2018
The applicant, AMG & Associates LLC, is requesting a conditional use permit, an analysis of the project's potential environmental effects and an increase in the city general plan's maximum floor area from 10,500 square feet to 30,000 square feet.

— priscella vega, latimes.com, "Assisted-living facility proposed for vacant lot in Huntington Beach," 23 May 2018
The city approved the conditional use permit, but Johnson filed an appeal.

— katy moeller, idahostatesman, "This subdivision almost had its own dog park. Boise said yes, then no. Here's why. | Idaho Statesman," 23 May 2018
It was announced Tuesday that the Jets are trading quarterback Christian Hackenberg to the Raiders for a conditional seventh-round draft pick.

— khadrice rollins, SI.com, "All of the Raiders Quarterbacks Have Appeared On Jon Gruden's QB Camp," 22 May 2018
Coach Todd Bowles announced Tuesday the team had traded the quarterback to the Oakland Raiders for a 2019 conditional seventh-round pick.

— michael middlehurst-schwartz, USA TODAY, "Jets give up on Christian Hackenberg, trade QB to Raiders for conditional seventh-round pick," 22 May 2018
The location allows a restaurant as a conditional use.

— todd a. price, NOLA.com, "Union Ramen, from former chef at Kin, planned for Lower Garden District," 21 May 2018
But they would be allowed to locate outside of a quarter-mile away, and inside a half-mile of a station if granted a conditional use permit from the city.

— tony bizjak, sacbee, "Gas stations and pot businesses not welcome, Sacramento says. Here's where and why | The Sacramento Bee," 13 May 2018

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.

First Known Use of conditional

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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conditional Synonyms

conditional

noun

Definition of conditional

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

2 : implication 2b

See conditional defined for English-language learners

Examples of conditional in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of conditional from the Web

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

First Known Use of conditional

1828

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

CONDITIONAL Defined for English Language Learners

conditional

adjective

Definition 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

noun

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