Definition

1. Noun:

   • A state of being or existence: The particular physical or mental state that something or someone is in.
   • A prerequisite or requirement: Something that must be true, happen, or be agreed upon for something else to be possible or valid.
   • An illness or medical problem: A particular state of health, often referring to an ailment or disease.
   • Circumstances affecting a situation: (Often plural) The facts, events, or environment that form the setting for an activity or process.

2. Verb:

   • To train or accustom: To teach or influence a person or animal to behave in a particular way or to respond automatically to a stimulus.
   • To stipulate as a term: To specify or require something as a necessary part of an agreement.
   • To bring into a desired state: To make something fit or healthy, often through care, treatment, or training.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The car is in excellent condition. (The car's state of repair is very good.)
  • One condition of the loan is a steady income. (A requirement for getting the loan is having a steady income.)
  • He has a serious heart condition. (He suffers from a significant heart ailment.)
  • The icy conditions made driving dangerous. (The circumstances of the icy road affected safety.)

• Verb:

  • The dogs are conditioned to respond to a whistle. (The dogs are trained to react automatically to the sound of a whistle.)
  • The contract conditions payment upon completion. (The contract specifies that payment is required only after the work is finished.)
  • Regular exercise conditions the body for endurance. (Regular exercise brings the body into a fit state for lasting effort.)

Advanced Usage

• "on condition that": Only if; provided that. Introduces a necessary requirement.
  • She agreed to help, on condition that her name was not used.
• "in no condition to": Not physically or mentally fit or able to do something.
  • After the accident, he was in no condition to drive.
• "Conditional" (adj): Dependent on something else; not absolute.
  • Their support is conditional on our acceptance of the terms.

Variants and Related Words

• Conditioner (n): A substance applied to improve the state of something (e.g., hair conditioner, air conditioner).
• Conditional (adj/n): Dependent on a condition. (In grammar) A clause or sentence expressing a condition.
• Conditioning (n): The process of training or accustoming a person or animal to behave in a certain way.
• Precondition (n): A condition that must be fulfilled before other things can happen.

Synonyms

• Noun: State, situation, circumstance, requirement, term, stipulation, ailment, disorder.
• Verb: Train, teach, accustom, stipulate, specify, require.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Condition to: To accustom or adapt someone/something to something.
  • Prisoners can become conditioned to a life of routine.

Related Idioms

• A condition precedent: (Legal) An event that must occur before a contract becomes binding.
• In mint condition: In perfect, brand-new condition, especially for collectible items.
  • The vintage comic book was in mint condition.
• Condition of sale: The terms under which a sale is made.

Noun

1. the procedure that is varied in order to estimate a variable's effect by comparison with a control condition
2. (usually plural) a statement of what is required as part of an agreement
   • the contract set out the conditions of the lease
   • the terms of the treaty were generous
3. an illness, disease, or other medical problem
   • a heart condition
   • a skin condition
4. the state of (good) health (especially in the phrases `in condition' or `in shape' or `out of condition' or `out of shape')
5. information that should be kept in mind when making a decision
   • another consideration is the time it would take
6. a mode of being or form of existence of a person or thing
   • the human condition
7. an assumption on which rests the validity or effect of something else
8. a state at a particular time
   • a condition (or state) of disrepair
   • the current status of the arms negotiations

Verb

1. apply conditioner to in order to make smooth and shiny
   • I condition my hair after washing it
2. put into a better state
   • he conditions old cars
3. specify as a condition or requirement in a contract or agreement; make an express demand or provision in an agreement
   • The will stipulates that she can live in the house for the rest of her life
   • The contract stipulates the dates of the payments
4. develop (children's) behavior by instruction and practice; especially to teach self-control
   • Parents must discipline their children
   • Is this dog trained?
5. establish a conditioned response