# condemn

> English word · Verb · IPA /kənˈdɛm/ · frequency rank #10,831

## Definitions
1. To strongly criticise or denounce; to excoriate.
2. To judicially pronounce (someone) guilty.
3. To judicially announce a verdict upon a finding of guilt; To sentence
4. To confer eternal divine punishment upon.
5. To destine to experience bad circumstances; to doom.
6. To declare something to be unfit for use, or further use.
7. To declare something to be unfit for use, or further use.
8. To declare something to be unfit for use, or further use.
9. To declare something to be unfit for use, or further use.
10. To declare something to be unfit for use, or further use.
11. To determine and declare (property) to be assigned to public use. See eminent domain.
12. To declare (a vessel) to be forfeited to the government or to be a prize.

## Etymology
From Middle English condempnen, from Old French condamner, from Latin condemnāre (“to sentence, condemn, blame”), from com- + damnāre (“to harm, condemn, damn”), from damnum (“damage, injury, loss”). Displaced native Middle English fordemen (from Old English fordeman (“condemn, sentence, doom”) > Modern English fordeem.

## Easily confused with
- **condom** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/condemn-vs-condom)
- **Condon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/condemn-vs-condon)
- **condemned** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/condemn-vs-condemned)
- **conde** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/conde-vs-condemn)
- **concern** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/concern-vs-condemn)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ccondemn`, `cnodemn`, `codnemn`, `conddemn`, `condemmn`, `condemnn`, `condenm`, `condmen`, `conedmn`, `conndemn`, `ocndemn`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/condemn