con·di·tion
kən-ˈdi-shən 
1
a
: a premise upon which the fulfillment of an agreement depends : stipulation
b
obsolete
: covenant
c
: a provision making the effect of a legal instrument contingent upon an uncertain event
must meet the terms and conditions of the contract
also
: the event itself
2
: something essential to the appearance or occurrence of something else : prerequisite: such as
a
: an environmental requirement
Available oxygen is an essential condition for animal life.
b
: the clause of a conditional sentence
3
a
: a restricting or modifying factor : qualification
b
: an unsatisfactory academic grade that may be raised by doing additional work
4
a
: a state of being
the human condition
b
: social status : rank
c
: a usually defective state of health
a serious heart condition
d
: a state of physical fitness or readiness for use
The car was in good condition.
exercising to get into condition
e
conditions plural
: attendant circumstances
poor living conditions
safe working conditions
conditioned; conditioning
kən-ˈdi-sh(ə-)niŋ
archaic
: to make stipulations
1
: to agree by stipulating
2
: to make conditional
3
a
: to put into a proper state for work or use
b
4
: to give a grade of condition to
5
a
: to adapt, modify, or mold so as to conform to an environing culture
traditional beliefs conditioning a child's attitude
b
: to modify so that an act or response previously associated with one stimulus becomes associated with another
Examples of condition in a Sentence
Noun
Happiness is the state or condition of being happy.
Their weakened condition makes them more likely to get sick.
Verb
the length of time that it takes for runners to condition their bodies for a marathon
a company that must condition its traditional ways of doing business to the realities of the global economy
Recent Examples on the Web
Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
The buildings appeared to be in poor condition and the city labeled them dangerous, leading to their demolition.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2025
Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
In an unusual twist, the TV host conditioned a loan to Merit Street on the company winning its lawsuit against the network.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for condition
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Path of destruction In the Caribbean, hotter-than-average waters paired with minimally disruptive winds higher in the atmosphere to create the perfect fuel and prime conditions for Melissa to strengthen.
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
The buildings appeared to be in poor condition and the city labeled them dangerous, leading to their demolition.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
The alternative story of Helen’s Egyptian detour invites a more critical examination of the relationship between war and story by highlighting the degree to which humans have been conditioned by a narrative that presents war as the ultimate stage for personal and national glory.
—Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
In an unusual twist, the TV host conditioned a loan to Merit Street on the company winning its lawsuit against the network.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for condition
Cite this Entry
“Condition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/condition. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
condition
1 of 2 noun
con·di·tion
kən-ˈdish-ən
1
: something on which the carrying out of an agreement depends
conditions of employment
2
: something essential to the appearance or occurrence of something else
3
: something that limits or restricts : qualification
4
a
: a state of being
b
: position in life
people of humble condition
c
plural
: state of affairs
poor living conditions
5
a
: a bodily state in which something is wrong
a serious heart condition
b
: a state of physical fitness or readiness for use
an athlete in good condition
the car was in poor condition
condition
2 of 2 verb
conditioned; conditioning
-ˈdish-(ə-)niŋ
1
: to put into a proper or desired condition
2
a
: to adapt, modify, or mold to respond in a particular way
b
: to change the behavior of (an organism) in such a way that a response to a given stimulus becomes connected with a different and formerly unrelated stimulus
dogs can be conditioned to salivate at the sound of a bell
Medical Definition
condition
1 of 2 noun
con·di·tion
kən-ˈdish-ən
1
: something essential to the appearance or occurrence of something else
especially
: an environmental requirement
available oxygen is an essential condition for animal life
2
a
: a usually defective state of health
a serious heart condition
b
: a state of physical fitness
exercising to get into condition
condition
2 of 2 transitive verb
conditioned; conditioning
-ˈdish-(ə-)niŋ
: to cause to undergo a change so that an act or response previously associated with one stimulus becomes associated with another
Legal Definition
condition
1 of 2 noun
con·di·tion
1
: an uncertain future act or event whose occurrence or nonoccurrence determines the rights or obligations of a party under a legal instrument and especially a contract
also
: a clause in the instrument describing the act or event and its effect
—
concurrent condition
: a condition that is to be fulfilled by one party at the same time that a mutual condition is to be fulfilled by another party
—
condition implied in law
: constructive condition in this entry
—
condition precedent
\
-pri-ˈsēd-ᵊnt, -ˈpre-sə-dənt
\
: a condition that must be fulfilled before performance under a contract can become due, an estate can vest, or a right can become effective
—
condition subsequent
: a condition whose fulfillment defeats or modifies an estate or right already in effect or vested or discharges an already existing duty under a contract
—
constructive condition
: a condition created by operation of law
called also condition implied in law
compare express condition in this entry
—
express condition
: a condition created and explicitly stated by the parties to a contract compare constructive condition in this entry
—
potestative condition
\
ˈpō-tes-ˌtā-tiv
\
in the civil law of Louisiana
: a condition whose fulfillment was completely within the power of the obligated party
Note: Article 1770 of the Louisiana Civil Code eliminates the term potestative condition, stating that suspensive conditions which depend on the whim of the obligated party make the obligation null, and that resolutory conditions which depend on the will of the obligated party must be fulfilled in good faith.
—
resolutory condition
\
ˌre-zə-ˈlü-tə-rē-, ri-ˈzäl-yu̇-ˌtōr-ē-
\
in the civil law of Louisiana
: a condition that upon fulfillment terminates an already enforceable obligation and entitles the parties to be restored to their original positions see also potestative condition in this entry
—
suspensive condition
in the civil law of Louisiana
: a condition which must be fulfilled before an obligation is enforceable see also potestative condition in this entry
2
: a state of being
a latent defective condition
3
: one of the rights or obligations of the policyholder or the insurer set forth in an insurance policy
conditional
adjective
conditionally
adverb
condition
2 of 2 transitive verb
conditioned; conditioning
: to make subject to conditions
the sale…was orally conditioned upon approval of the patent—J. D. Calamari and J. M. Perillo
J. D. Calamari and J. M. PerilloLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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