# condemned

/kənˈdɛmd/ (US) · /kəndˈɛmd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. sentenced to death

adjective · CEFR B2

sentenced to a very severe punishment, usually death.

For teachers: judicially sentenced to a severe penalty, most commonly capital punishment.

- The condemned man was allowed one final phone call to his family.
- The condemned prisoner sat in silence, awaiting the final legal appeal that might stay the execution scheduled for dawn.

### 2. unsafe building

adjective · CEFR B2

officially declared to be in such bad condition that it is unsafe to live in.

For teachers: officially declared unfit for use or habitation by a governing authority due to structural or sanitary defects.

- The city put a sign on the condemned house to stop people from entering.
- The condemned apartment block was eventually demolished to make way for a modern, earthquake-resistant residential complex.

### 3. people sentenced to death

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

people who have been sentenced to die for a crime.

For teachers: a collective reference to individuals who have been judicially sentenced to capital punishment.

- The charity works to protect the rights of the condemned in several countries.
- The advocate spent her career fighting for the rights of the condemned, arguing that the legal process was often flawed.

Usage: Usually used with 'the' to refer to a group of people.

## Examples

- The world leaders condemned the violent attack.
- The judge condemned the defendant to life in prison after the jury returned a guilty verdict.
- While the international community condemned the regime's actions in public statements, many nations continued to trade with them behind closed doors.

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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.