a trainer of athletes
"The experienced conditioner pushed his runners until they were completely exhausted during practice."
a substance used in washing (clothing or hair) to make things softer
"After using shampoo, she applied conditioner to her hair to leave it feeling soft and manageable."
anything that improves the condition of something
"The extra fertilizer acted as a conditioner, improving the soil's texture and allowing it to hold water better."
In plain English: A conditioner is something you put on your hair after washing it to make it softer and easier to manage.
"She applied conditioner to her hair after washing it with shampoo."
Usage: A hair conditioner specifically softens and detangles strands, while other types like wood or metal conditioners treat materials to prevent deterioration. Use this term when referring to a substance applied after washing or processing to restore quality rather than clean it initially.
The word conditioner comes from combining the verb condition with the suffix -er. It originally referred to something that puts a person or thing into a specific state of health or fitness before taking on its modern meaning for hair and skin care products.