Condemn

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -É›m

Origin

From Old French condamner, from Latin condemnāre ("to sentence, condemn, blame"), from com- + damnāre ("to harm, condemn, damn"), from damnum ("damage, injury, loss").

Full definition of condemn

Verb

1. (transitive) To confer some sort of eternal divine punishment upon.
2. (transitive) To adjudge (a building) as being unfit for habitation.The house was condemned after it was badly damaged by fire.
3. (transitive) To scold sharply; to excoriate the perpetrators of.The president condemns the terrorist.The president condemns the terrorist attacks.
4. (transitive) To judicially pronounce (someone) guilty.
5. (transitive) To determine and declare (property) to be assigned to public use. See eminent domain
6. (transitive) To adjudge (food or drink) as being unfit for human consumption.
7. (transitive, legal) To declare (a vessel) to be forfeited to the government, to be a prize, or to be unfit for service.

Synonyms

• damn
• (to pronounce guilty) convict

Antonyms

• save
• (to pronounce guilty) acquit

Related terms

• condemnable
• condemnation