# condemnation

/ˌkɑndəmˈneɪʃən/ (US) · /kɒndɪmnˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/condemnation
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. strong disapproval

noun · CEFR B2

a very strong statement that you think something is bad or wrong.

For teachers: the formal expression of very strong disapproval; a public statement of censure.

- The government's decision met with widespread condemnation from the public.
- The international community issued a joint condemnation of the human rights violations, demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities.

### 2. legal sentencing

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of officially judging someone to be guilty and giving them a punishment.

For teachers: the judicial act of adjudging a person guilty or sentencing them to a specific punishment.

- The prisoner awaited his final condemnation with a look of despair.
- The judge's formal condemnation of the defendant followed a lengthy trial that had captivated the national media for months.

### 3. declaring a building unfit

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

an official order saying that a building is not safe to live in or use.

For teachers: the official declaration that a structure or property is unfit for use or habitation, often leading to its closure or demolition.

- The old apartment block faced condemnation after the inspectors found serious structural damage.
- Following the earthquake, the city council issued a notice of condemnation for several historic buildings that were deemed structurally unsound.

### 4. eminent domain

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Technical

the legal process where the government takes private property for public use.

For teachers: the legal process by which a public entity exercises the power of eminent domain to take private property for public utility.

- The family fought the condemnation of their land for the new highway project.
- The local authority initiated condemnation proceedings to acquire the necessary acreage for the expansion of the municipal airport.

## Examples

- The government faced condemnation for its harsh policies.
- Her decision to quit without notice drew sharp condemnation from her colleagues.
- The international community issued a statement of condemnation regarding the violation of human rights in the region.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.