adjective
Common
condemned
kuhn-DEHMD
Condemned (adjective) means Officially declared unfit for use or habitation. Example: “The council put a notice on the condemned house, warning people to keep out.”
adjective
1
Officially declared unfit for use or habitation.
"The council put a notice on the condemned house, warning people to keep out."
"Residents were moved out of the condemned flats because the roof was unsafe."
"The condemned building was demolished the following year."
noun
1
A person sentenced to death.
"The condemned was led from the cell early in the morning."
"In the old novel, the condemned spent his last night writing letters."
"The condemned was granted a final visit from his family."
How to use condemned
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOfficially declared unsafe or unfit — or, as a noun, someone sentenced to death.
Common pairings
condemned building
condemned man
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like condemned.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The council put a notice on the _____ house, warning people to keep out.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “condemned” mean?
The word “condemned” means officially declared unfit for use or habitation. In plain terms, officially declared unsafe or unfit — or, as a noun, someone sentenced to death.
How do you pronounce “condemned”?
“Condemned” is pronounced kuhn-DEHMD (/kənˈdɛmd/ in IPA).
How do you use “condemned” in a sentence?
Here is “condemned” used in a sentence: “The condemned building was demolished the following year.”
What part of speech is “condemned”?
Depending on how it is used, “condemned” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “condemned” a common word?
“Condemned” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “condemned” have?
“Condemned” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: officially declared unfit for use or habitation.
What is the difference between 'condemned' and 'convicted'?
'Convicted' means found guilty of a crime in court. 'Condemned,' used as a noun, refers to a person who has been sentenced to death after conviction, so a person is first convicted and then, in some cases, condemned.
What is the difference between a condemned building and a demolished one?
'Condemned' means a building has been officially declared unfit for use, which is a legal status. 'Demolished' means it has been physically torn down; a condemned building may later be demolished, but the terms describe different stages.
Why is 'condemned' used both for buildings and for people?
In both cases 'condemned' reflects an official judgment made against something. A building is condemned when authorities declare it unfit for use, while a person is condemned when a court passes a sentence, such as a sentence of death.
