conditional

[ kuhn-dish-uh-nl ]

adjective

1. imposing, containing, subject to, or depending on a condition or conditions; not absolute; made or allowed on certain terms:

   conditional acceptance.

   Synonyms: relative, contingent, dependent

2. Grammar. (of a sentence, clause, mood, or word) involving or expressing a condition, as the first clause in the sentence If it rains, he won't go.
3. Logic.
   1. (of a proposition) asserting that the existence or occurrence of one thing or event depends on the existence or occurrence of another thing or event; hypothetical.
   2. (of a syllogism) containing at least one conditional proposition as a premise.
4. Mathematics. (of an inequality) true for only certain values of the variable, as x + 3 > 0 is only true for real numbers greater than −3. Compare absolute ( def 12 ).

noun

1. Grammar.
   1. (in some languages) a mood, tense, or other category used in expressing conditions, often corresponding to an English verb phrase beginning with would, as Spanish comería “he would eat.”
   2. a sentence, clause, or word expressing a condition.

conditional

/ kənˈdɪʃənəl /

adjective

1. depending on other factors; not certain
2. grammar (of a clause, conjunction, form of a verb, or whole sentence) expressing a condition on which something else is contingent: " If he comes " is a conditional clause in the sentence " If he comes I shall go "
3. 1. (of an equation or inequality) true for only certain values of the variable: x ² –1 = x + 1 is a conditional equation, only true for x = 2 or –1
   2. (of an infinite series) divergent when the absolute values of the terms are considered
4. Alsohypothetical logic (of a proposition) consisting of two component propositions associated by the words if…then so that the proposition is false only when the antecedent is true and the consequent false. Usually written: p → q or p ⊃ q, where p is the antecedent, q the consequent, and → or ⊃ symbolizes implies

noun

1. grammar
   1. a conditional form of a verb
   2. a conditional clause or sentence
2. logic a conditional proposition

Derived Forms

• conˌditionˈality, noun
• conˈditionally, adverb

Other Words From

• con·dition·ali·ty noun
• con·dition·al·ly adverb
• noncon·dition·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conditional¹

1350–1400; Middle English condicionel < Anglo-French, Middle French < Late Latin condiciōnālis, equivalent to condiciōn- (stem of condiciō ) condition + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

Two of the males, aged 17 and 24, who were arrested on suspicion of murder, have been released on conditional bail.

From BBC

The act's most controversial element, the offer of conditional immunity to suspects, was dropped following legal action by bereaved families.

From BBC

That night, Rollins did not concede, writing in a statement that mailed and conditional ballots were still being counted and that the race was “too close to call.”

From Los Angeles Times

A paper written by two of his former national security chiefs in May said the US should continue supplying weapons, but make the support conditional on Kyiv entering peace talks with Russia.

From BBC

After appearing at North Tyneside Magistrates' Court on 12 September and pleading not guilty to the charges, Hoganson had been on conditional bail.

From BBC

Related Words

• limited
• provisional
• restrictive
• tentative