Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Condition has 15 different meanings across 2 categories:
an assumption on which rests the validity or effect of something else
"The loan was granted, but it is strictly conditional upon proof of income within ten days."
information that should be kept in mind when making a decision
"another consideration is the time it would take"
the procedure that is varied in order to estimate a variable's effect by comparison with a control condition
"The researcher altered the lighting levels in the experimental condition to isolate their impact on reaction time compared to the standard control group."
A logical clause or phrase that a conditional statement uses. The phrase can either be true or false.
"In the programming loop, the condition determines whether the next block of code executes based on its truth value."
In plain English: A condition is a specific situation or state of being that something is in at a particular time.
"The weather conditions were perfect for our picnic."
Usage: Use "condition" to describe a specific situation, requirement, or state of being rather than a logical clause in programming or mathematics. In everyday conversation, it refers to the circumstances under which something happens or the physical quality of an object.
establish a conditioned response
"The trainer repeated the bell sound before giving treats to help the dog establish a conditioned response that made it salivate at the noise alone."
develop (a child's or animal's) behavior by instruction and practice; especially to teach self-control
"Parents must discipline their children"
"Is this dog trained?"
apply conditioner to in order to make smooth and shiny
"I condition my hair after washing it"
To subject to the process of acclimation.
"Before releasing the fish into the lake, we must condition them in a tank that matches the water temperature and chemistry of their new home."
In plain English: To condition something means to train it to do something specific through repeated practice.
"He conditioned his dog to come when called."
Usage: Use "condition" to mean training someone or something to adapt to specific circumstances, such as conditioning a dog to obey commands or acclimating a plant to indoor light. Avoid using it simply to describe the state of an object's quality, which requires the noun form instead.
The word condition entered English from the Old French condicion, which itself came from the Latin condicio. Although the spelling was later altered by a confusion with the related Latin word conditio, its core meaning remained consistent throughout this journey.