conditional

[kuhn-dish-uh-nl]

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adjective

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).

noun

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

1350–1400; Middle English condicionel < Anglo-French, Middle French < Late Latin condiciōnālis, equivalent to condiciōn- (stem of condiciō) condition + -ālis -al¹

Related formscon·di·tion·al·i·ty, nouncon·di·tion·al·ly, adverbnon·con·di·tion·al, adjective

Synonyms for conditional

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1. dependent, contingent, relative.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for conditionally

tentatively, hypothetically

Examples from the Web for conditionally

Historical Examples of conditionally

I understood Mahomed grudgingly granted them a half-soul, and that only conditionally.
The Prodigal Returns
Lilian Staveley
Besides the promise was made only conditionally, as was that made to Eli.
A History of Mediaeval Jewish Philosophy
Isaac Husik
He flung back sombrely, "You don't even put it conditionally then?"
The Touchstone
Edith Wharton
Mrs. Dudley, Im willing to be as generous as you can expect, conditionally.
Justin Wingate, Ranchman
John H. Whitson
Give me absolution, he said: at least conditionally, in case what I say should be true.
Old and New Paris, v. 1
Henry Sutherland Edwards

British Dictionary definitions for conditionally

conditional

adjective

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

noun

grammar

a conditional form of a verb
a conditional clause or sentence

logic a conditional proposition

Derived Formsconditionality, nounconditionally, 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

Word Origin and History for conditionally

conditional

adj.

late 14c., condicionel, from Old French condicionel (Modern French conditionnel), from Latin conditionalis, from condicionem (see condition (n.)). Related: Conditionally.