condolence

IPA/kənˈdəʊləns/
KK[kəndˈoləns]IPA/kənˈdəʊləns/

condolence — noun

  • condolencesingular
  • condolencesplural

1. a feeling of sympathy that you show to someone whose family member or close frie

1.nounB2
Definition

a feeling of sympathy that you show to someone whose family member or close friend has recently died, often by writing a letter, sending a card, or speaking to them in person.

Example

The mayor sent a letter of condolence to the Wang family after the firefighter died.

letter of condolence — written form

At the funeral, the teacher's former students offered their condolences to his widow.

offer one's condolences — verbal expression of sympathy

Common collocations
  • deepest condolences
  • heartfelt condolences
  • sincere condolences
  • letter of condolence
  • message of condolence
  • condolence card
  • condolence book
  • offer condolences
  • express condolences
  • send condolences
  • extend condolences
Synonyms
  • sympathy

    broader term; can be used for any misfortune, not only death

  • commiseration

    more literary and less common; expresses shared sorrow

  • mourning

    refers to the period or act of grieving, not the message of support

Antonyms
  • congratulations

    expresses joy for a happy event, the opposite emotional register

Grammar Patterns

condolence + noun (modifier)

offer / express / send + one's condolences (plural)

letter / message / note + of condolence

Usage Note

Condolence is most often used in the plural form (condolences), especially when you refer to the verbal or written expression. The singular form (condolence) appears mainly as a noun modifier before another noun, as in condolence letter or condolence message.

Common Mistakes

I sent my condolence to her.
I sent my condolences to her.
The plural form is standard when expressing sympathy; condolence in the singular sounds unnatural.

Word family

  • condole
    verbC1
  • condolatory
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Sympathy is the broadest of these words — it can be offered for any difficulty (losing a job, failing an exam) and does not necessarily involve death. Condolence is specifically tied to bereavement and carries a formal, ritual quality; it is the word you write in a card or speak at a funeral home. Commiseration is more intimate and literary — it suggests sharing in someone's sorrow rather than sending a formal message, so it is used less often in public statements. Mourning refers to the internal or cultural process of grieving (wearing black, observing a period of silence), not to the expression of support for others. While you offer condolences, you do not 'offer mourning'. Use condolence for the message or gesture you extend to the bereaved; use sympathy when the context is general unhappiness but not necessarily death.

sympathy ↗condolence ↗commiseration ↗mourning ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • offer one's condolences
  • express one's condolences
  • send one's condolences
  • extend one's condolences
  • my deepest condolences
  • a message of condolence
  • a letter of condolence
  • a book of condolence

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Condolence comes from Latin condolēre, meaning 'to suffer together' (con- meaning 'together' + dolēre meaning 'to grieve or suffer pain'). The word entered English through French condoléance in the 1600s. The sense of a formal written expression of sympathy developed in the 1700s as mourning etiquette became more codified in Europe.