the conditional
noun
grammar
: the mood or form that is used to say that something is true or happens only if something else is true or happens
The conditional is often marked by the word "if."
Examples of the conditional in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In Wells, after accepting the commutation, the defendant-petitioner argued that the president possessed the authority to issue only absolute pardons, not conditional ones, and that the petitioner’s acceptance of the conditional pardon was made under duress.
—
Robert Radick, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Now that the conditional use permit to build the Prime Air Drone Delivery Center is approved, Amazon will need the FAA and the local airport commission to sign off on its operational procedures.
—Noah Daly
updated May 28, Idaho Statesman, 28 May 2026
Last week, Bloomberg reported that the Pentagon may ultimately not lend to ReElement because of concerns over the company’s revenue projections and ability to scale up its technology that were discovered after the conditional loan was announced.
—Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 28 May 2026
Gower said the approval of the conditional use permit would help ensure the complex can reopen in the future, but did not provide a timeline for the reopening.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 12 May 2026
Her 18-year prison sentence was suspended, but her foundation says the conditional release is insufficient and demands her complete and unconditional freedom.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
Iran has not said anything about such a joint effort or committed publicly to abandoning uranium enrichment under the conditional ceasefire agreement.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The status of the pick will only sort of begin to crystallize in the weeks ahead, thanks to the conditional 2026 first-round pick that went to Boston in the Brandon Carlo trade.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026
With the deal, the conditional first-round selection the Sharks received from the Oilers last March, as part of a trade that sent defenseman Jake Walman to Edmonton, now becomes an unprotected pick.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
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Robert Radick, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Now that the conditional use permit to build the Prime Air Drone Delivery Center is approved, Amazon will need the FAA and the local airport commission to sign off on its operational procedures.
—Noah Daly
updated May 28, Idaho Statesman, 28 May 2026
Last week, Bloomberg reported that the Pentagon may ultimately not lend to ReElement because of concerns over the company’s revenue projections and ability to scale up its technology that were discovered after the conditional loan was announced.
—Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 28 May 2026
Gower said the approval of the conditional use permit would help ensure the complex can reopen in the future, but did not provide a timeline for the reopening.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 12 May 2026
Her 18-year prison sentence was suspended, but her foundation says the conditional release is insufficient and demands her complete and unconditional freedom.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
Iran has not said anything about such a joint effort or committed publicly to abandoning uranium enrichment under the conditional ceasefire agreement.
—CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
The status of the pick will only sort of begin to crystallize in the weeks ahead, thanks to the conditional 2026 first-round pick that went to Boston in the Brandon Carlo trade.
—Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026
With the deal, the conditional first-round selection the Sharks received from the Oilers last March, as part of a trade that sent defenseman Jake Walman to Edmonton, now becomes an unprotected pick.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“The conditional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20conditional. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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