English

Noun

condolences

1. plural of condolence
2. (plural only) 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

Translations

Interjection

condolences

1. Expressing perfunctory or jocular condolence wishes.
   • 1992, Martin Cruz Smith, Red Square, page 120:

     "What were you doing at the cemetery?" / "Burying my father." / "Oh." Rodionov grunted as if he had expected a more imaginative excuse. "Condolences."

   • 2008 July 15, NPR, “When Does It Go Too Far?”, in Talk of the Nation:

     Let's get another caller on the line. This is Camille. Camille with us from Visalia in California. / Visalia, California that's correct. / Go ahead please. / Hi. I'm an African-American woman and when I first saw the cover - let me preface this. I'm in central California, which is very conservative. And... / Condolences.

Antonyms

• congratulations