# conditioner

/kənˈdɪʃənɝ/ (US) · /kəndˈɪʃənɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/conditioner
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. for hair

noun · CEFR B1

a thick liquid you put on your hair after washing it to make it soft and easy to brush.

For teachers: a cosmetic substance used to improve the texture and manageability of hair after shampooing. Often uncountable when referring to the substance generally.

- After using the new conditioner, my hair felt much softer and was easier to comb.
- The stylist recommended a leave-in conditioner to protect the hair from heat damage during the blow-drying process.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the product in general, but countable when referring to a specific bottle or type.

### 2. for clothes

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

a liquid added to a washing machine to make clothes feel soft and smell nice.

For teachers: a chemical agent added to laundry to prevent static and soften the fabric. Also known as fabric softener.

- Don't forget to add the fabric conditioner to the final rinse cycle.
- The laundry detergent already contains a built-in conditioner, so there is no need to add extra softener to the machine.

Usage: Commonly called 'fabric softener' in American English.

### 3. fitness trainer

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a person who helps athletes or animals get into top physical shape.

For teachers: a specialist responsible for the physical preparation and fitness levels of athletes or racehorses.

- The team hired a new strength and conditioner to help the players avoid injuries.
- The head coach worked closely with the lead conditioner to ensure the players reached peak physical form before the tournament began.

Usage: Usually appears in the compound phrase 'strength and conditioning coach' or 'conditioner' in professional sports contexts.

### 4. general improver

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

anything that is used to improve the quality or state of something else.

For teachers: a substance or device used to bring something to a desired state or quality.

- We added a soil conditioner to the garden to help the plants grow better.
- The technician installed a power conditioner to protect the sensitive laboratory equipment from fluctuations in the electrical supply.

## Examples

- She used conditioner to make her hair soft.
- After rinsing out the shampoo, he applied a generous amount of conditioner to his damp hair.

---

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.