English

Pronunciation

Noun

(always plural in this sense)

1. comfort, support, or sympathy offered to the family and friends of somebody who has died

   I sent her a card expressing my condolences after her mother passed away.

See also

• condolence

Interjection

condolences

1. Expressing disappointment or bad news.

Antonyms

• congratulations

When someone condoles, or offers their condolences to, a particular situation or person, they are offering active, conscious support of that person or activity. Often, the English language expression "my condolences" will be in a context, such as death of a friend's loved one, in which the one offering condolences is compelled to feel pity towards the unfortunate party. But condolences can also be offered by friends or supporters of circumstances that are legally debatable, such as the justifiability of a domestic abuse victim killing her/his abusive partner. In this case, some might offer their condolences to the victim, while others might not.