condition
noun (countable)
UK/kənˈdɪʃ.ən/US/kənˈdɪʃ.ən/
A physical or medical state, often referring to health or illness.
Example Sentences
She is in critical condition after the accident and is being monitored closely by the medical team.
The patient’s condition has improved significantly since yesterday.
Managing chronic conditions requires regular check-ups and adherence to treatment plans.
The hospital specializes in treating complex medical conditions that require specialized care.
He has a rare genetic condition that affects his ability to metabolize certain foods.
Early diagnosis of conditions like diabetes can prevent serious complications later on.
The organization provides support and resources for individuals living with mental health conditions.
Advances in medical research have improved the prognosis for many life-threatening conditions.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
verb (transitive)
UK/kənˈdɪʃ.ən/US/kənˈdɪʃ.ən/
To subject someone or something to a particular condition or treatment.
Example Sentences
The lab will condition the samples by exposing them to high temperatures.
She conditioned her hair regularly to keep it soft and manageable.
The training program conditions the athletes to perform under pressure.
They conditioned the soil before planting to ensure optimal growth for the crops.
The machine conditions the air by filtering out pollutants and adding moisture.
He conditioned his mind through meditation to handle stress more effectively.
The treatment conditions aim to alleviate symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life.
The environment was conditioned to maintain a constant temperature for the sensitive experiments.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
How to Use
A state or requirement influencing results or status.This term can function as both a noun and a verb, commonly describing a state of being, a prerequisite, or the act of influencing something’s state. In its noun form, “condition” may refer to a requirement (“They agreed to the deal under certain conditions”), a state of health or repair (“Her car is in excellent condition”), or external factors that affect outcomes (“Poor weather conditions slowed the race”). As a verb, it typically denotes preparing, training, or influencing something to achieve a particular state or behavior—“He conditioned the dog to respond to specific commands.” In everyday usage, specifying context clarifies whether you mean a requirement (“One condition of the contract is confidentiality”), a physical or mental state (“She has a heart condition”), or a process of preparation (“Athletes condition their bodies before competitions”). In more technical fields, such as data science or psychology, “condition” might be used to discuss controlled variables or stimuli influencing an experiment. Whether referring to a health matter, an environmental factor, or training a skill, “condition” underscores aspects that shape outcomes or that must be met for a goal to proceed. Pairing it with context—such as medical, contractual, or environmental—helps listeners and readers quickly grasp the nature of the requirement, state, or preparation involved.
Alternatives
If you want variety or more precision, several synonyms and related expressions can capture different facets of this term. For discussing health or repair, “state,” “shape,” or “status” may emphasize physical or qualitative aspects—“The bicycle is still in prime shape.” If focusing on prerequisites or rules, “requirement,” “stipulation,” or “term” hones in on something that must be fulfilled. In formal contracts or agreements, phrases like “provision” or “clause” might be more appropriate, highlighting the legal framework. When talking about influencing or training, “prepare,” “prime,” “adapt,” or “acclimate” can replace the verb “condition,” reflecting how one establishes a desired state—“She acclimated her team to new procedures.” For more casual references to background elements, you can say “circumstances” or “factors,” especially if multiple elements shape a situation—“Economic factors dictate market conditions.” Employing these synonyms ensures you communicate the precise angle—physical state, contractual requirement, or shaping process—while keeping language fresh and suited to context. By choosing the right word, you spotlight the nature of the requirement, the environment, or the process needed to achieve certain outcomes, whether you’re talking about everyday tasks, official agreements, or rigorous training programs.
Writing
When writing, “condition” can convey everything from specific prerequisites in legal or technical documents to general states of affairs in descriptive contexts. If you’re drafting a contract or policy, you might use it to stipulate essentials—“The following conditions apply.” In academic or research settings, it can label scenarios, such as experimental groups or factors influencing results—“Participants in the control condition received no additional feedback.” If you’re describing a setting in fiction or narrative nonfiction, “condition” can highlight a character’s health, the state of a location, or pivotal requirements—“His living condition deteriorated as winter approached.” Avoid overuse by varying your phrasing: for legal or formal contexts, interchange “provision,” “requirement,” or “stipulation”; for states of repair or well-being, “state,” “status,” or “shape” can avoid repetition. Make sure each usage clarifies whether you’re referencing an external factor, an internal state, or an imposed requirement—outlining the impact it has on the storyline, the research methodology, or the course of an agreement. Ultimately, presenting “condition” effectively means anchoring it in context, giving enough detail to show how it drives action or influences a scenario. Balancing brevity and clarity preserves your reader’s engagement while ensuring each reference to “condition” carries the weight or significance you intend.
Casual Conversation
In everyday conversation, “condition” often signifies the general state of something or someone, as in “Her phone is in bad condition—it barely works.” It’s a straightforward way to note how well something functions, looks, or feels. When you’re talking about deals or exchanges, you might say “That’s a condition of me helping you,” clarifying a friendly requirement or boundary. You might hear someone mention a health concern as a ‘condition,’ like “He has a heart condition,” generally without diving into technical details. In more laid-back chats, you can also use it to describe sports or fitness routines—“I condition my hair after shampooing” or “He’s conditioning for the upcoming marathon.” The casual tone focuses on everyday experiences of setting requirements (“You can go out on the condition you clean your room first”) or noting states (“The road conditions are icy—drive carefully”). If you want to avoid sounding repetitive, you might replace it with “shape,” “state,” or “situation,” depending on context. Above all, when speaking casually, “condition” is a quick way to refer to what shape something’s in or what terms need to be met, keeping conversations direct and practical.
Etymology
The word “condition” originates from the Latin “conditio,” meaning “agreement” or “situation,” derived from “condicere,” or “to speak together, make terms.” From there, it passed into Old French as “condition,” and then into Middle English, carrying with it ideas of stipulations or states that result from a shared accord. Over time, the meaning expanded to incorporate both the notion of a requirement, often found in legal or formal settings, and the state or circumstance in which someone or something exists—be it health, environmental factors, or predetermined prerequisites. This duality reflects centuries of usage: on one hand, focusing on formal provisions or instructions, on the other, emphasizing an existing state that can be improved, worsened, or changed. Today, “condition” remains deeply woven into fields like medicine (chronic condition), finance (conditions of an agreement), and everyday life (road conditions, personal condition), each drawing on that original idea that something’s state or arrangement follows from stated terms or recognized circumstances.