Which to use
“condemn” is a verb and “condom” is a noun - they look or sound alike but fill different roles in a sentence.
- #10,831
- “condemn” frequency rank
- #12,947
- “condom” frequency rank
- 23778
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | condemn | condom |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | To strongly criticise or denounce; to excoriate. | A flexible sleeve made of latex or other impermeable material such as polyurethane or sheepskin, worn over an erect penis during sexual intercourse as a contraceptive or as a way to prevent the spread of STIs during PIV, anal, or oral. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set condemn and condom apart are highlighted. They share 5 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
condemn and condom form a confusable pair in the English index, two distinct headwords that are easily confused because they look alike, sound alike, or both. They differ by 1 letter(s) in length - close enough that the eye skips over the difference, far enough that meaning fully diverges. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 23778, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
condemn is recorded at frequency rank #10,831, classified as averb, pronounced /kənˈdɛm/. condom is at rank #12,947, tagged as anoun, pronounced /ˈkɒn.dɒm/.
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 23778, this pair ranks #406,848 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "condemn" and "condom" be used interchangeably?
Remembering condemn vs condom
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Check the role first: if you need a verb, it's “condemn”; for a noun, it's “condom”.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “condemn” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable