condition
condition — noun
1. a measure of how good or bad the appearance or quality of a thing, a person, or
a measure of how good or bad the appearance or quality of a thing, a person, or their surroundings seems.
The old sofa was in such poor condition that we had to throw it away.
in such poor condition
Buyers were impressed by the perfect condition of the vintage car.
perfect condition of
Baraka checked the condition of every tool before starting the repair work.
The building's condition had worsened after years of heavy rain and neglect.
condition had worsened
Items that are not in good condition cannot be returned to the store for a refund.
in good condition
- in good condition
- in poor condition
- in perfect condition
- in mint condition
- physical condition
Grammar Patterns
be in + adj + condition
in (a) ... condition
Common Mistakes
2. the physical features of a place, such as weather, lighting, or safety level, th
the physical features of a place, such as weather, lighting, or safety level, that affect how people carry out their daily lives.
The rescue team worked in freezing conditions to save the trapped climbers.
in freezing conditions
Imran refused to work in a factory where safety conditions were so dangerous.
safety conditions
Drivers were warned that road conditions would be slippery after the snowstorm.
road conditions
Living conditions in the refugee camp improved after the aid agency arrived with supplies.
Living conditions
The plants grew well under the warm and humid conditions of the greenhouse.
under the ... conditions of
- working conditions
- living conditions
- weather conditions
- road conditions
- under ... conditions
- circumstances
broader, includes non-physical factors like financial or social situation
- environment
more formal, often used for natural or social surroundings
Grammar Patterns
under/in ... conditions
Usage Note
Almost always used in the plural form ('conditions') when referring to surroundings or circumstances. The singular form may appear in fixed phrases like 'under any condition'.
Common Mistakes
3. a medical problem affecting someone's health, especially one that lasts many yea
a medical problem affecting someone's health, especially one that lasts many years and may never fully go away.
Meera's doctor told her that her heart condition would require regular check-ups.
heart condition
Children with a skin condition called eczema often need special lotions to stay comfortable.
skin condition called
The hospital has a specialist ward for patients with chronic breathing conditions.
chronic breathing conditions
Obi was born with a rare medical condition that affects only one person in a million.
rare medical condition
Stress can make some pre-existing conditions worse, according to Charlotte's doctor.
pre-existing conditions
- heart condition
- skin condition
- chronic condition
- pre-existing condition
- medical condition
Grammar Patterns
have a ... condition
suffer from a ... condition
a condition affecting [body part]
Usage Note
Unlike the general word 'disease', 'condition' is often used for long-term health issues that are managed rather than cured. It can sound gentler: 'a heart condition' vs. 'heart disease'.
Common Mistakes
4. the degree to which someone is healthy, strong, and able to do physical activity
the degree to which someone is healthy, strong, and able to do physical activity without getting tired easily.
After months of training, Yuna was in excellent condition for the marathon.
in excellent condition
Théo was so out of condition after the winter break that he got tired just climbing stairs.
out of condition
The coach said the team needed to improve their physical condition before the championship match.
physical condition
Gabriela stays in good condition by swimming every morning before work.
stays in good condition
A doctor examined the runners and declared them all in satisfactory condition for the race.
in satisfactory condition
- in good condition
- in excellent condition
- out of condition
- physical condition
- keep in condition
Grammar Patterns
in/out of condition
in good/poor physical condition
Usage Note
Frequently used with the prepositions 'in' or 'out of' followed by an adjective: 'in good condition' means fit, 'out of condition' means unfit. This sense is NOT used with 'a/an'.
Common Mistakes
5. something that must be agreed to, accepted, or in place before another thing can
something that must be agreed to, accepted, or in place before another thing can happen or be done.
One of the conditions of the loan was that Ayesha had to pay it back within three years.
conditions of the loan
Cole accepted the job offer on the condition that the company would pay for his travel.
on the condition that
Please read the terms and conditions carefully before you sign the rental agreement.
terms and conditions
The charity released the funds on condition that the school build a new library.
on condition that
No conditions were attached to the donation, so the hospital could use the money freely.
conditions were attached
- terms and conditions
- on condition that
- condition of
- set conditions
- meet the conditions
- requirement
stronger sense of necessity; a 'condition' may be negotiable, but a 'requirement' is often mandatory
- term
usually paired with 'conditions'; 'term' is one specific point in an agreement
- stipulation
more formal and legal; used in official contracts
Grammar Patterns
condition(s) of/for [noun]
on condition that + clause
terms and conditions
Usage Note
Commonly used in the plural ('conditions') when referring to multiple rules in a contract or agreement. The phrase 'terms and conditions' is a fixed legal pair used on websites, forms, and contracts.
Common Mistakes
6. used for stating that one thing will only happen or be true if another thing is
used for stating that one thing will only happen or be true if another thing is agreed to or arranged first.
Kenji said he would help us move house on condition that we buy him dinner afterwards.
on condition that
The government agreed to fund the project on condition that it created local jobs.
Padma let her son borrow the car on one condition: he must be home before midnight.
on one condition
The scientist shared her research data on condition that her name appeared in the paper.
You can use the meeting room on condition that you clean it up before you leave.
- on condition that
- on one condition
- on the condition that
- provided that
synonymous but slightly more formal; both are interchangeable in most contexts
- as long as
less formal, common in everyday conversation
Grammar Patterns
on condition that + clause
on one condition
Usage Note
This is not a noun sense in the ordinary way — 'on condition that' functions as a conjunction introducing a conditional clause. The clause after 'that' can use either the present simple or 'should', and sometimes the subjunctive.
in mint condition
idiomin perfect condition, as good as new — typically used for collectible items, books, or cars.
Christopher was thrilled to find a first-edition novel in mint condition at the second-hand shop.
The 1960s motorbike had been kept in mint condition by its original owner.
on no condition
idiomnot for any reason; never — used to strongly forbid something.
On no condition should you open the laboratory door while the experiment is running.
The librarian told the children that on no condition were they to eat inside the reading room.
condition — verb
1. to train someone or an animal over time so that they behave or react in a partic
to train someone or an animal over time so that they behave or react in a particular way automatically, without thinking.
The dogs were conditioned to sit quietly whenever they heard a bell ring.
conditioned to + infinitive
Lakan's parents had conditioned him to say please and thank you from a very young age.
Years of working in a noisy factory had conditioned Wei to sleep through any sound.
conditioned + person + to-infinitive
Pavlov famously conditioned dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell through repeated feeding.
Society conditions children to follow certain rules without always explaining the reasons behind them.
conditions + person + to-infinitive
- condition someone to
- be conditioned to
- socially conditioned
- culturally conditioned
Grammar Patterns
condition + person/animal + to-infinitive
be conditioned to + verb
Usage Note
Often used in the passive voice ('be conditioned to'). In psychology, this refers specifically to classical or operant conditioning, but in everyday English, it simply means shaping habits through repetition.
Common Mistakes
2. to put a special liquid or cream on your hair or skin after washing, so that it
to put a special liquid or cream on your hair or skin after washing, so that it becomes softer, smoother, or healthier.
After shampooing, Rin always conditions her hair with a coconut oil treatment.
conditions her hair
The hairdresser recommended that Dahlia condition her dry hair at least twice a week.
Camille bought a new product that both cleanses and conditions the skin in one step.
conditions the skin
Salma's hairdresser told her to condition the ends of her hair more often to prevent splitting.
If you condition your hair regularly, it will become much easier to brush and style.
- condition your hair
- condition your skin
- condition regularly
- moisturize
specifically about adding moisture, while 'condition' is about improving texture and manageability
Grammar Patterns
condition + noun (hair, skin)
Usage Note
Used almost exclusively in the context of hair and skincare products. The noun form 'conditioner' (e.g., 'hair conditioner', 'fabric conditioner') is far more common in everyday English than the verb.
3. to directly control, influence, or determine the way something develops, changes
to directly control, influence, or determine the way something develops, changes, or happens.
A child's early experiences often condition the way they view the world as adults.
condition the way
The amount of sunlight conditions how quickly the fruit will grow and ripen on the tree.
Market demand conditions the price that farmers can get for their crops each season.
conditions the price
Cultural norms condition what people consider polite or rude in different countries.
condition what people consider
Defne's upbringing conditioned her attitude toward money and saving for the future.
- condition the way
- condition attitude
- condition behaviour
- conditioned by
- condition the outcome
Grammar Patterns
condition + noun
be conditioned by + noun
Usage Note
This sense is more abstract than verb/1 — it is about factors shaping outcomes rather than training living beings. The subject is usually a force, factor, or environment, not a person actively training someone.
4. to make something ready for a specific purpose, or to keep it in a proper state
to make something ready for a specific purpose, or to keep it in a proper state so it works well.
The technician conditioned the new battery by charging and discharging it several times.
conditioned the new battery
A piano must be conditioned to the room's humidity level before it can be tuned properly.
Elise conditioned the leather saddle with oil so it would stay soft and last for years.
The swimming pool water must be conditioned with chemicals to keep it safe for swimmers.
conditioned with chemicals
Before painting, Anya conditioned the wooden surface with a special primer to protect it.
- condition a surface
- condition water
- condition leather
- condition a battery
Grammar Patterns
condition + noun + for + noun
be conditioned for + noun
Usage Note
Common in technical or maintenance contexts (electronics, instruments, materials). When used for living beings, it overlaps with verb/1 but focuses on physical readiness rather than mental training.
5. to state in a formal or legal agreement that something must happen or be done be
to state in a formal or legal agreement that something must happen or be done before another thing can take effect.
The contract conditioned the payment on Gabriel completing the work by December.
conditioned ... on + noun/-ing
The will conditioned that Quan would inherit the house only if he lived in it for five years.
conditioned that
The university's offer was conditioned upon the student achieving a grade of at least eighty percent.
conditioned upon
Their agreement conditioned the sale of the business on the buyer keeping all current staff.
International aid was conditioned on the government allowing independent observers into the region.
conditioned on
- conditioned on
- conditioned upon
- condition that
Grammar Patterns
condition + that-clause
be conditioned on/upon + noun
Usage Note
Rare in everyday speech. Usually appears in legal documents, formal contracts, or official conditions. The passive form ('be conditioned on/upon') is more common than the active form of this sense.
Word family
- conditionaladjectiveB2
- conditionallyadverbC1
- conditionernounB1
- conditioningnounB2
- unconditionaladjectiveB2
- unconditionallyadverbC1
- preconditionnounC1
- reconditionverbC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/5
All four words relate to something that must be fulfilled before something else can happen or be agreed. 'Condition' (noun/5) is the broadest of the group — it can refer to a rule in a contract, a prerequisite in daily life, or a clause in a formal agreement. 'Requirement' is stronger and less negotiable; if something is a requirement, it is mandatory and cannot be waived. 'Stipulation' is more formal and specific to legal or official contexts — it emphasises that a detail has been explicitly stated in writing. 'Term' usually appears in the fixed pair 'terms and conditions', where 'terms' cover the broader framework (price, duration, scope) and 'conditions' refer to the specific rules or limitations. For example, a rental agreement might state: 'One condition of the lease is no pets,' while the requirement of a first-month deposit is a different kind of obligation. Use 'requirement' when the focus is on necessity, and 'condition' when the focus is on a rule that must be met.
Common collocations
Nouns
- terms and conditions
- condition of employment
- condition of sale
- living conditions
- working conditions
- weather conditions
- heart condition
- skin condition
- physical condition
Adverbs
- well conditioned
- poorly conditioned
- carefully conditioned
- socially conditioned
- culturally conditioned
Phrases
- in good condition
- in poor condition
- on the condition that
- on no condition
- in mint condition
- terms and conditions
Prepositions
- in condition
- out of condition
- on condition that
- conditioned on
- conditioned by
- conditioned to
Etymology
The word 'condition' comes from the Latin word 'condicio', meaning 'an agreement' or 'a situation'. It entered English through Old French 'condiciun' in the 14th century. The original meaning was 'a stipulation or term in an agreement,' which later broadened to include 'the state or situation something is in.' The verb senses developed around the 16th century, first meaning 'to make an agreement' and later evolving into 'to train or influence' in the 19th century through psychological terminology.