condescension

American  

[kon-duh-sen-shuhn] / ˌkɒn dəˈsɛn ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of condescending. condescending.

2. behavior that is patronizing or condescending. condescending.

3. voluntary assumption of equality with a person regarded as inferior.

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Usage

What does condescension mean? Condescension is a way of interacting with others that implies that you’re superior to them. It especially refers to when this is done in an arrogant or patronizing way—meaning when you act as if you’re doing someone a favor by supposedly lowering yourself to their level of understanding or intelligence.Condescension often involves not only what is said but also how it’s said. A tone of condescension is often one that sounds like it’s directed at a child.Condescension is a noun form of the verb condescend, which most commonly means to behave in this way. When used this way, condescend, condescension, and the adjective condescending are always negative and imply that such behavior is insulting to the person or people it’s directed toward.Condescend can also mean to stoop to a lower level or to do something that one considers as below one's dignity. A close synonym of this sense of the word is deign. Condescension can also mean the act of doing so.Example: His opinion piece is dripping with condescension—it’s written as if no one else is capable of understanding.

Other Word Forms

• condescensive adjective
• condescensively adverb
• noncondescension noun

Etymology

Origin of condescension

First recorded in 1635–45, condescension is from the Late Latin word condēscēnsiōn- (stem of condēscēnsiō ). See con-, descension

Example Sentences

He also cites the mystery novelist Agatha Christie, about whom he has a new book out in May that aims “to show that any stylistic and intellectual condescension towards her is unjustified.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

Fastvold doesn’t judge Lee’s convictions; there isn’t an ounce of cynicism or condescension.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 24, 2025

Then we can talk about specific groups’ concerns — but here we’ve got to avoid any hint of the condescension that so often seeps into our message.

From Salon • Mar. 12, 2025

“He could smell out condescension, a slight, an air of superiority or a snub at a thousand paces; and at once smelt, he could charge after it with quite shocking abandon.”

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2024

Indeed, Colonel Nichols, exasperated by the scientists’ condescension toward his workforce, soon informed Lawrence that the women could outproduce the scientists and that he was prepared to prove it in a production race.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik