condemn
B2Formal, common in legal, political, journalistic, and official contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To express strong disapproval of someone or something, stating that it is wrong or unacceptable; to formally sentence someone (especially to punishment); to declare something unfit for use.
To force someone into an unpleasant state or situation; (of circumstances) to be the cause of something unfortunate; to officially declare a building unsafe or a food product unfit for consumption.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a final, often official, judgment of guilt, fault, or unfitness. It carries strong moral or legal force. The object can be a person, an action, an idea, or a physical object (like a building).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic differences. Spelling of derived words follows regional norms (e.g., BrE: condemned, condemning, condemnation; AmE: same).
Connotations
Identical in connotation across varieties. Both imply severity and finality of judgment.
Frequency
Equally frequent and used in identical contexts in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] condemn [Object][Subject] condemn [Object] as [Noun/Adjective][Subject] condemn [Object] for [Gerund/Noun Phrase][Subject] condemn [Person] to [Punishment/Fate]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “condemn someone to a fate worse than death”
- “condemn out of hand”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in corporate communications condemning unethical practices of a competitor.
Academic
Common in political science, law, ethics, and history papers to describe official censure or moral judgment.
Everyday
Used in news reports and serious discussions about politics, crime, or social issues.
Technical
Specific use in construction/engineering: 'The surveyor condemned the bridge.' In law: 'The court condemned him to life imprisonment.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council condemned the building after the inspection.
- The PM was quick to condemn the terrorist outrage.
- His illness condemned him to a life of quiet isolation.
American English
- The mayor condemned the building after the inspection.
- The president was quick to condemn the terrorist attack.
- The evidence condemned him to a lifetime in prison.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'Condemn' does not have a standard adverb form. 'Condemnably' is extremely rare.
American English
- N/A - 'Condemn' does not have a standard adverb form. 'Condemnably' is extremely rare.
adjective
British English
- The condemned man ate a final meal.
- They entered the condemned property at their own risk.
American English
- The condemned man ate his last meal.
- They explored the condemned property illegally.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Many people condemned the cruel treatment of animals.
- The old factory was condemned and will be demolished.
- The UN resolution strongly condemned the invasion as a violation of international law.
- The judge condemned the defendant to ten years in prison for his crimes.
- Historians now condemn the colonial policy as having been fundamentally exploitative.
- The report's findings effectively condemned the company to financial ruin.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CONDEMNed building with a sign saying 'CONDEMNED: Do Not Enter'. The sign is an official, strong statement that the building is unfit—just as the verb is a strong, official statement that something is wrong.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORAL WRONGNESS IS STRUCTURAL UNSOUNDNESS / LEGAL GUILT IS A BURDEN (to be condemned is to be found 'unsound' morally or to have the 'burden' of a sentence placed upon you).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'condone' (попустительствовать, прощать). They are near-opposites.
- The Russian 'клеймить' or 'осуждать' are close, but 'condemn' often implies a more formal, institutional judgment.
- The construction 'condemn to' (обрекать на) is a common pattern not to be overlooked.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *I condemn him for his good work. (Logic error: condemn is negative).
- Incorrect: *The teacher condemned the student to write lines. (Overly strong; use 'made' or 'ordered').
- Confusion with 'contemn' (a rare, literary word meaning to despise).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'condemn' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The noun form is 'condemnation' (/ˌkɒn.demˈneɪ.ʃən/ in BrE, /ˌkɑːn.demˈneɪ.ʃən/ in AmE).
Yes. You can condemn actions, ideas, buildings (declare unsafe), or food (declare unfit).
Yes, significantly. 'Condemn' implies a severe, often formal or final, moral judgment, while 'criticize' can be milder and more general.
They are often used together. A judge 'condemns' the criminal's actions (morally disapproves) and then 'sentences' them (pronounces the legal punishment). 'Condemn to' can also mean 'sentence to'.