Condescension is the act of treating someone as if they're less intelligent, capable, or important than you are. When someone speaks with condescension, they talk down to others in a way that feels insulting, even if their words seem polite on the surface.

You can hear condescension in someone's tone of voice. Imagine a classmate explaining something to you using an overly sweet voice, speaking slowly as if you're much younger, even though you understood the concept perfectly well. Or picture an adult patting you on the head and saying “That's cute” when you share a serious idea you've been thinking about carefully. That dismissive attitude is condescension.

The adjective form is condescending. A condescending person might say things like “Well, if you'd been paying attention, you'd understand” or “Let me explain this in simple terms for you.” They assume they know better without actually listening or considering that others might have valuable thoughts, too.

Condescension is different from genuine helpfulness. When someone truly wants to help you learn something new, they respect your intelligence even while teaching you. A condescending person, though, seems more interested in feeling superior than in actually communicating. People usually sense condescension immediately, and it damages relationships because nobody likes feeling looked down on.