What does condolence mean?
Condolence is a noun meaning an expression of sympathy or sorrow offered to someone who has experienced grief or misfortune, most commonly the death of a loved one. It derives from Latin roots meaning 'to suffer with,' capturing the idea of sharing in another's pain. In practice, the word appears almost exclusively in formal registers: condolence cards, letters, funeral speeches, and messages of support. It typically occurs in the plural when spoken — 'please accept my condolences' — while the singular survives in phrases like 'a letter of condolence.' Common collocations include offering condolences, expressing condolences, and extending deepest condolences. Though closely related to sympathy and compassion, condolence specifically denotes the outward expression of those feelings rather than the feelings themselves. Its solemn, respectful tone makes it the standard vocabulary of mourning across both British and American English, and knowing how to use it gracefully remains an essential social skill.
nounAn expression of sympathy or sorrow, especially offered to someone who has suffered a bereavement or other misfortune.
- An expression of sympathy or sorrow extended to someone experiencing grief or loss, especially after the death of a loved one.
"She sent a card of condolence to her colleague after the death of his father."
"Please accept my sincere condolences on the passing of your grandmother."
"The president sent condolences to the families of the victims."
The plural is the standard form in spoken usage — 'my condolences' — while the singular is reserved mainly for written expressions like 'a note of condolence.'
"We sent our condolences to the family after hearing the sad news."
The word 'condolence' literally means 'suffering with' — from Latin dolere, 'to feel pain' — making it one of the oldest ways English lets us say: your pain is shared.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of condolence
Condolence comes from the Latin verb 'condolere,' meaning 'to suffer with' or 'to grieve together,' formed from 'com-' (with) plus 'dolere' (to feel pain). The word entered English in the early 17th century, likely via French 'condoléance.' It shares its root with related words such as 'condole' (the now-rare verb), 'dolor,' and 'dolorous,' all tracing back to the same Latin source for pain and grief.
How condolence is actually used
Almost always used in formal contexts. Most often appears in the plural ('condolences') when spoken aloud — 'my condolences' — though the singular is common in written phrases such as 'a letter of condolence.' The verb form is 'to condole,' but it is rare; the noun carries nearly all everyday usage.
Easily confused with condolence
Condolence is an expression of sympathy for another's grief, whereas consolation is the comfort itself that eases that grief.