Word
condolence
Phoneticscon·do·lence
US/kənˈdoʊɫəns/
UK/kəndˈəʊləns/
Definition
n. an expression of sympathy for someone who is suffering, especially after someone has died. You might send a card or a message to show you care.
n. an expression of sympathy or sorrow for someone who is suffering, particularly in the context of a bereavement. Often used in the plural to refer to the collective messages received.
Examples
“She sent a card to offer her condolences to the family.”
“The local community gathered at the funeral to express their condolences and share memories of the deceased.”
“While the family appreciated the outpouring of support, they requested that any expressions of condolence be directed toward a specific charity in the deceased's name.”
Examples
simple
“She sent a card to offer her condolences to the family.”
contextual
“The local community gathered at the funeral to express their condolences and share memories of the deceased.”
complex
“While the family appreciated the outpouring of support, they requested that any expressions of condolence be directed toward a specific charity in the deceased's name.”
Real-World Examples
“In churches and city halls around Norway, people came to write in condolence books and light candles.” “Queensland parliament has held a condolence motion for the family and friends of former Labor MP Jimmy Sullivan , who died in April .” Etymology
From condole + -ence, or from Middle French condoléance, or formed from the root of Latin condoleō (“I sympathize”), from con- (“together, with”) and doleō (“I hurt, suffer, have pain”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
offer one's condolences — To offer sympathy to someone who has recently experienced the loss of a loved one.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/condolence