condemnation
Americannoun
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the act of condemning.
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the state of being condemned.
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strong censure; disapprobation; reproof.
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a cause or reason for condemning.
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U.S. Law. the seizure, as of property, for public use.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of condemnation
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English condempnacioun, from Middle French, from Late Latin condemnātiōn-, stem of condemnātiō; equivalent to condemn + -ation
Explanation
Condemnation is the act of declaring something awful or evil. If your little brother does something unspeakably awful, express your condemnation so he will learn not to do it again. Condemnation comes from the verb condemn, "to strongly disapprove." You might criticize something that you still think is worthwhile, but if you express condemnation, that’s laying a heavy moral blame. Condemnation is used in law, and means the same thing as sentencing; you might have heard a judge say “I condemn you to ten years of hard labor.” Also, a very dangerous building will be sealed up and deemed uninhabitable by an act of condemnation.
Vocabulary lists containing condemnation
Fahrenheit 451
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The Crucible
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"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Condemnation has come in from nations in Europe and the wider Middle East, with particular criticism saved for the risk it posed to the lives of diplomats.
From BBC • May 21, 2025
Condemnation of the Tipaldo decision came from across the entire political spectrum.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 30, 2024
Condemnation of Israel’s policies and concern about the plight of Palestinians are not necessarily antisemitic, of course, and even ugly, horrific or violence-endorsing speech is generally protected against governmental interference.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 11, 2023
Condemnation of the police actions in the Nichols case also poured in from law enforcement officials, including Cerelyn Davis, the Memphis police chief, who said her former officers lacked “basic humanity.”
From Washington Post • Jan. 28, 2023
Their statements are all based upon a pamphlet, The Full Tryals, Examination, and Condemnation of Four Notorious Witches at the Assizes held at Worcester on Tuseday the 4th of March....
From A History of Witchcraft in England from 1558 to 1718 by Notestein, Wallace
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
