I. -shən ə l, -shnəl adjective
Etymology: Middle English condicionel, from Middle French, from Late Latin condicionalis, from condicion-, condicio + -alis -al
1. : containing, implying, subject to, or depending on a condition
conditional diplomatic recognition
a conditional promise
: not absolute : not certain : not full or unreserved — often used with on or upon
my visit is conditional on his plans
2. : expressing a condition or supposition : of or belonging to the expression of a condition : introducing, containing, or implying a supposition
the conditional conjunctions if, unless, and though
the conditional phrases provided that and supposing that
the conditional clause if he speaks
the conditional sentence if he speaks you must listen
3. : true only for certain values of the variables or symbols involved
conditional equations
4. : conditioned
a conditional stimulus
a conditional response
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : a conditional word, clause, or verb form ; specifically : a verb form in the conditional mood
b. : the conditional mood
2. : implication 2b
III. adjective
1. : involving or yielding values that are conditional probabilities
a conditional distribution
2. : eliciting a conditional response
a conditional stimulus
3. : permitting survival only under special growth or environmental conditions
conditional lethal mutations