conditional

1 of 2

adjective

con·​di·​tion·​al kən-ˈdish-nəl How to pronounce conditional (audio)
-ˈdi-shə-nᵊl
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 sense 2
conditional reflex
conditional response
b
: established by conditioning as the stimulus eliciting a conditional response
conditionality noun
conditionally
kən-ˈdish-nə-lē How to pronounce conditional (audio)
-ˈdi-shə-nə-lē
adverb

conditional

2 of 2

noun

1
: a conditional word, clause, verb form, or morpheme
2

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
Vegas sent the malcontent to the New York Jets on Tuesday for a mere conditional third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Vincent Frank, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024 The Ducks traded prospect Gage Alexander for spark-plug forward Robby Fabbri and a conditional draft pick, doing so thinking Tomas Suchanek’s role would expand. Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 7 Oct. 2024
Noun
Each monthly box is filled with fun activities and projects that cover a variety of coding topics ranging from variables and loops to conditionals and functions. Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 5 Dec. 2023 The precise nature of the problem as described by NHTSA included numerous conditionals and caveats that indicate the risks are not necessarily grave. Bychristiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 17 Feb. 2023 See all Example Sentences for conditional 

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

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near conditional

Cite this Entry

“Conditional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conditional. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

conditional

adjective
con·​di·​tion·​al
kən-ˈdish-nəl,
-ən-ᵊl
1
: depending on a condition
a conditional sale
2
: expressing, containing, or implying something supposed
"if we go" is a conditional clause
conditionally
-nə-lē
-ən-ᵊl-ē
adverb

Medical Definition

conditional

adjective
con·​di·​tion·​al kən-ˈdish-nəl, -ən-ᵊl How to pronounce conditional (audio)
1
a
: conditioned
conditional reflex
conditional response
b
: eliciting a conditional response
a conditional stimulus
2
: permitting survival only under special growth or environmental conditions
conditional lethal mutations
conditionally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on conditional

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