diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f886d3b28..8307c9222 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ Breaking changes:
 - [#1574](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/pull/1574) Default key case for the JsonApi adapter changed to dashed. (@remear)
 
 Features:
+- [#1699](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/pull/1699) String/Lambda support for conditional attributes/associations (@mtsmfm)
 - [#1687](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/pull/1687) Only calculate `_cache_digest` (in `cache_key`) when `skip_digest` is false. (@bf4)
 - [#1647](https://github.com/rails-api/active_model_serializers/pull/1647) Restrict usage of `serializable_hash` options
   to the ActiveModel::Serialization and ActiveModel::Serializers::JSON interface. (@bf4)
diff --git a/docs/general/serializers.md b/docs/general/serializers.md
index b166d9d0a..7b96fe98d 100644
--- a/docs/general/serializers.md
+++ b/docs/general/serializers.md
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ end
 
 ```ruby
 has_one :blog, if: :show_blog?
+# you can also use a string or lambda
+# has_one :blog, if: 'scope.admin'
+# has_one :blog, if: -> (serializer) { serializer.scope.admin? }
 
 def show_blog?
   scope.admin?
diff --git a/lib/active_model/serializer/field.rb b/lib/active_model/serializer/field.rb
index 35e6fe263..b8ac9099e 100644
--- a/lib/active_model/serializer/field.rb
+++ b/lib/active_model/serializer/field.rb
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ def value(serializer)
       def excluded?(serializer)
         case condition_type
         when :if
-          !serializer.public_send(condition)
+          !evaluate_condition(serializer)
         when :unless
-          serializer.public_send(condition)
+          evaluate_condition(serializer)
         else
           false
         end
@@ -37,6 +37,19 @@ def excluded?(serializer)
 
       private
 
+      def evaluate_condition(serializer)
+        case condition
+        when Symbol
+          serializer.public_send(condition)
+        when String
+          serializer.instance_eval(condition)
+        when Proc
+          condition.call(serializer)
+        else
+          fail ArgumentError
+        end
+      end
+
       def condition_type
         @condition_type ||=
           if options.key?(:if)
diff --git a/test/serializers/associations_test.rb b/test/serializers/associations_test.rb
index ed5ce1e05..3cf11d7bd 100644
--- a/test/serializers/associations_test.rb
+++ b/test/serializers/associations_test.rb
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ def test_associations_namespaced_resources
           end
         end
 
-        def test_conditional_associations
+        def test_symbol_conditional_associations
           serializer = Class.new(ActiveModel::Serializer) do
             belongs_to :if_assoc_included, if: :true
             belongs_to :if_assoc_excluded, if: :false
@@ -261,6 +261,36 @@ def false
 
           assert_equal(expected, hash)
         end
+
+        def test_string_conditional_associations
+          serializer = Class.new(ActiveModel::Serializer) do
+            belongs_to :if_assoc_included, if: 'object.true'
+            belongs_to :if_assoc_excluded, if: 'object.false'
+            belongs_to :unless_assoc_included, unless: 'object.false'
+            belongs_to :unless_assoc_excluded, unless: 'object.true'
+          end
+
+          model = ::Model.new(true: true, false: false)
+          hash = serializable(model, serializer: serializer).serializable_hash
+          expected = { if_assoc_included: nil, unless_assoc_included: nil }
+
+          assert_equal(expected, hash)
+        end
+
+        def test_lambda_conditional_associations
+          serializer = Class.new(ActiveModel::Serializer) do
+            belongs_to :if_assoc_included, if: -> (s) { s.object.true }
+            belongs_to :if_assoc_excluded, if: -> (s) { s.object.false }
+            belongs_to :unless_assoc_included, unless: -> (s) { s.object.false }
+            belongs_to :unless_assoc_excluded, unless: -> (s) { s.object.true }
+          end
+
+          model = ::Model.new(true: true, false: false)
+          hash = serializable(model, serializer: serializer).serializable_hash
+          expected = { if_assoc_included: nil, unless_assoc_included: nil }
+
+          assert_equal(expected, hash)
+        end
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/test/serializers/attribute_test.rb b/test/serializers/attribute_test.rb
index b4a441c69..6a5421409 100644
--- a/test/serializers/attribute_test.rb
+++ b/test/serializers/attribute_test.rb
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ def test_virtual_attribute_block
         assert_equal(expected, hash)
       end
 
-      def test_conditional_attributes
+      def test_symbol_conditional_attributes
         serializer = Class.new(ActiveModel::Serializer) do
           attribute :if_attribute_included, if: :true
           attribute :if_attribute_excluded, if: :false
@@ -118,6 +118,36 @@ def false
 
         assert_equal(expected, hash)
       end
+
+      def test_string_conditional_attributes
+        serializer = Class.new(ActiveModel::Serializer) do
+          attribute :if_attribute_included, if: 'object.true'
+          attribute :if_attribute_excluded, if: 'object.false'
+          attribute :unless_attribute_included, unless: 'object.false'
+          attribute :unless_attribute_excluded, unless: 'object.true'
+        end
+
+        model = ::Model.new(true: true, false: false)
+        hash = serializable(model, serializer: serializer).serializable_hash
+        expected = { if_attribute_included: nil, unless_attribute_included: nil }
+
+        assert_equal(expected, hash)
+      end
+
+      def test_lambda_conditional_attributes
+        serializer = Class.new(ActiveModel::Serializer) do
+          attribute :if_attribute_included, if: -> (s) { s.object.true }
+          attribute :if_attribute_excluded, if: -> (s) { s.object.false }
+          attribute :unless_attribute_included, unless: -> (s) { s.object.false }
+          attribute :unless_attribute_excluded, unless: -> (s) { s.object.true }
+        end
+
+        model = ::Model.new(true: true, false: false)
+        hash = serializable(model, serializer: serializer).serializable_hash
+        expected = { if_attribute_included: nil, unless_attribute_included: nil }
+
+        assert_equal(expected, hash)
+      end
     end
   end
 end