The most common condemn meaning is to say publicly and strongly that something is wrong or unacceptable. When a school principal condemns bullying, or a group of countries condemns an attack, they are expressing firm moral disapproval.
The verb has other important uses too: a judge can condemn a prisoner to a punishment, a city inspector can condemn a building as unsafe, and circumstances can condemn someone to a hard life. Below, each sense is explained in plain words, with examples, the Latin origin and the classic mix up with condone.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
To express strong disapproval of; to declare wrongOther senses
To sentence to punishment; to declare unfit for use; to doom to a bad situationPart of speech
Verb (condemned, condemning)Pronunciation
kuhn-DEM; the final n is silentWord forms
condemnation (noun), condemnatory (adjective), condemned (adjective)Origin
Old French condamner, from Latin condemnare, from com- + damnare, to harm or condemnOpposite
Praise, approve, endorse, pardon, acquit
Condemn meaning: four senses
- Express strong disapproval. To say, usually in public, that an act or behaviour is morally wrong. "Parents condemned the vandalism at the playground."
- Sentence to punishment. In law, to pass a sentence on someone found guilty. "He was condemned to ten years in prison." This sense is now mostly found in history and literature.
- Declare unfit for use. To officially rule that a building, bridge or food is unsafe. "The flats were condemned after the earthquake."
- Doom to a bad situation. To force someone into an unhappy state. "Poor planning condemned the town to years of traffic jams."
Condemn in real sentences
- The football club condemned the racist chants and banned the fans responsible.
- Health inspectors condemned forty kilos of spoiled fish at the market.
- Leaders from both sides of the dispute condemned the violence.
- That one bad review seemed to condemn the restaurant to an empty dining room.
- It is easy to condemn people online without knowing the full story.
Condemn in law and property
In criminal history, a condemned prisoner was one sentenced to death, and the condemned cell was where they waited. Today courts usually speak of sentencing and convicting instead. A conviction is the finding of guilt; the sentence follows.
In property law, condemnation has two meanings. First, a building can be condemned as unsafe by local authorities. Second, in the United States, condemnation is also the legal process by which a government takes private land for public use, such as a highway, under the power of eminent domain, normally with payment to the owner. That American sense of the word dates back to the early nineteenth century. In India, similar public takings fall under land acquisition law instead.
Condemn vs condone, criticise and denounce
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Condemn | Declare firmly wrong; very strong |
| Condone | Accept or overlook wrong behaviour; nearly the opposite |
| Criticise | Point out faults; can be mild or constructive |
| Denounce | Condemn publicly and loudly, often naming someone |
| Censure | Formally criticise, often by an official body |
| Contemn | A rare word meaning to treat with scorn; linked to contempt |
The pair to watch is condemn and condone. They look alike but point in opposite directions. If you condone cheating, you let it pass; if you condemn it, you speak out against it. A statement like "we do not condone violence" is softer than "we condemn violence."
Origin and the silent n
Condemn came into English in the early fourteenth century, meaning to blame or censure, and soon after, to pass judgment against someone. It came through Old French condamner from Latin condemnare, to sentence or blame, built from com-, probably as an intensifier, and damnare, to harm or condemn. Damn and damage share that root.
The final n is silent in condemn, just as in autumn and column. It wakes up in longer forms: condemnation is said kon-dem-NAY-shuhn, with the n sounded. The sense of judging a building unfit is recorded from the 1740s.
Using condemn well
To define condemn by its grammar, look at the patterns. Typical ones are condemn something (condemn the attack), condemn someone for something (condemned him for lying), condemn something as (condemned the plan as reckless) and be condemned to (condemned to repeat the same mistakes). Adverbs often added in news writing include strongly, widely, roundly and unequivocally.
When reporting a statement, stay accurate about strength. If an official merely "expressed concern," do not write that they condemned something. For public life vocabulary, browse law, politics and society; close by sit justice and retribution; for everyday words, visit everyday vocabulary.
Frequently asked questions
What does condemn mean in plain English?
To condemn is to say strongly that something is wrong. It can also mean to sentence someone or to declare something unsafe.
Why is the n silent in condemn?
English kept the Latin spelling, but the final mn cluster lost its n sound in speech, as also happened with autumn and hymn. The n is still pronounced in condemnation.
What does a condemned building mean?
A building that local authorities have officially declared unsafe or unfit to live in. People usually must move out, and it may be repaired or demolished.
Is condemn the opposite of condone?
Close to it. Condone means to accept or overlook wrongdoing, while condemn means to declare it wrong. The two are often confused because they look similar.
Which noun comes from condemn?
Condemnation, as in "the decision drew widespread condemnation." It can also mean the legal process of declaring property unfit or taking it for public use.
Can you condemn a person, not just an act?
Yes. You can condemn someone for what they did, and in law a person can be condemned to a sentence. Day to day, though, the target is usually a deed rather than a human being.