condemnation

American  

[kon-dem-ney-shuhn, -duhm-] / ˌkɒn dɛmˈneɪ ʃən, -dəm- /

noun

condemnations plural

1. the act of condemning.

2. the state of being condemned.

3. strong censure; disapprobation; reproof.

4. a cause or reason for condemning.

5. U.S. Law. the seizure, as of property, for public use.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncondemnation
  noun
• recondemnation
  noun
• self-condemnation
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• condemnations
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

condemnation condemnations

Others in Merz's party have been forthright in their condemnation, calling on Spahn to resign as head of the CDU's parliamentary group.

From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026

The condemnation was unanimous, and the backlash was immediate.

From Salon ● Jul. 7, 2026

The pastor’s arrest had drawn condemnation from the U.S. government and lawmakers of both political parties.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

His arrest on Monday sparked condemnation after Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the country's military chief and son of the president, boasted about it on social media.

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026

Determined not to let Chapter Eleven’s condemnation of tourism ruin our travel plans, Milton was making airplane reservations and haggling with car rental agencies.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Such condemnations might reduce violence, but, in any case, they are the right thing to do.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026

But the 70-year-old pontiff has been cautious in his statements since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran that started the war on February 28, refraining from naming any party in his condemnations and appeals for peace.

From Barron's ● Mar. 30, 2026

In their condemnations, many of these countries have referred to Somalia's "territorial integrity" and the breaching of international principles.

From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2025

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “gravely concerned” over the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza; Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Reporters Without Borders and other groups also issued condemnations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2025

Here once more we have an instance of Tertullian's sympathy and tenderness for woman, whom he perhaps never includes in his most sweeping attacks and condemnations.

From The Conflict of Religions in the Early Roman Empire by Glover, T. R. (Terrot Reaveley)

Related Words

• accusation
• censure
• denunciation
• disapproval
• judgment