condemns

Condemns is the third-person singular present tense of the verb condemn. The term carries several related meanings in English, centered on disapproval or penalty. It can mean to express strong disapproval of an action, behavior, or statement; to denounce as wrong or immoral; or to declare something or someone to be subject to punishment or invalid.

In usage, condemn can function in moral, legal, and formal contexts. Morally or ethically, a person or group may condemn an act as unacceptable or harmful. Legally, to condemn can mean to declare something unfit for use or occupation, as in condemning a building after an inspection. It can also mean to sentence or designate a person to punishment through a judicial process, such as condemning a defendant to imprisonment or, in historical or extreme cases, the death penalty. In religious or doctrinal discourse, condemnations may be issued against beliefs or practices deemed heretical or immoral.

The nuance of condemnation often depends on the speaker’s authority and the context. A public official or institution may issue formal condemnations, while private individuals may condemn actions informally. The word implies both judgment and a call for action—whether to refrain from a behavior, to dismantle unsafe structures, or to impose penalties.

Etymology generally traces condemn to Latin condemnare, through Old French condamner, acquiring the English form condemn over time. Related terms include condemnation (the act or state of being condemned) and condemnatory (expressing disapproval).

See also: condemnation, condemnatory, condemnable.