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

Alison was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £76 in prosecution costs and a victim surcharge.

From BBC

Each parent was given a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay a £26 victim surcharge.

From BBC

This Conditional Variational Diffusion Model produces state-of-the-art results also surpassing the m-rBCR model presented here.

From Science Daily

Many of the parents were given six-month conditional discharges.

From BBC

Tran’s campaign manager, Gowri Buddiga, said Monday that voters need to be patient, but the campaign is “confident that as the remaining vote-by-mail, provisional, and conditional ballots are tallied, Derek Tran will emerge victorious.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• limited
• provisional
• restrictive
• tentative