conditional
imposing, containing, subject to, or depending on a condition or conditions; not absolute; made or allowed on certain terms: conditional acceptance.
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.
Logic.
(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.
(of a syllogism) containing at least one conditional proposition as a premise.
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).
Grammar.
(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.”
a sentence, clause, or word expressing a condition.
Origin of conditional
1Other words for conditional
Other words from conditional
- con·di·tion·al·i·ty, noun
- con·di·tion·al·ly, adverb
- non·con·di·tion·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use conditional in a sentence
The Eagles will receive a third-round choice in this year’s NFL draft and a conditional second-round pick in next year’s draft.
Eagles agree to trade quarterback Carson Wentz to the Colts for a pair of draft picks | Mark Maske | February 18, 2021 | Washington PostOrlando retained conditional rights to recall him this spring, and Barnsley holds an option for a permanent transfer this summer.
At present, Sinopharm China Biotech Beijing has formally submitted a conditional listing application to the State Food and Drug Administration.
In just 150 words, China’s Sinopharm claims its vaccine is safe and effective | Katherine Ellen Foley | December 30, 2020 | QuartzWhile dispensing with the conjunction, it does not cause ambiguity; nevertheless, conditionality is well marked.
The Verbalist | Thomas Embly Osmun, (AKA Alfred Ayres)
British Dictionary definitions for conditional
/ (kənˈdɪʃənəl) /
depending on other factors; not certain
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 "
(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
(of an infinite series) divergent when the absolute values of the terms are considered
Also: hypothetical 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
grammar
a conditional form of a verb
a conditional clause or sentence
logic a conditional proposition
Derived forms of conditional
- conditionality, noun
- conditionally, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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