condone

verb

con·​done kən-ˈdōn How to pronounce condone (audio)
condoned; condoning

transitive verb

: to regard or treat (something bad or blameworthy) as acceptable, forgivable, or harmless
a government accused of condoning racism
condone corruption in politics
condonable adjective
condoner noun

Did you know?

Since some folks don't condone even minor usage slips, you might want to get the meaning of this word straight. Although English speakers sometimes use condone with the intended meaning "approve of" or "encourage," the more established meaning is closer to "pardon" or "overlook." Condone comes from the Latin verb condonare, which means "to absolve." Condonare in turn combines the Latin prefix con-, indicating thoroughness, and donare, meaning "to give" or "to grant." Not surprisingly, donare is also the source of our words donate and pardon.

Choose the Right Synonym for condone

excuse, condone, pardon, forgive mean to exact neither punishment nor redress.

excuse may refer to specific acts especially in social or conventional situations or the person responsible for these.

excuse an interruption
excused them for interrupting

Often the term implies extenuating circumstances.

injustice excuses strong responses

condone implies that one overlooks without censure behavior (such as dishonesty or violence) that involves a serious breach of a moral, ethical, or legal code, and the term may refer to the behavior or to the agent responsible for it.

a society that condones alcohol but not narcotics

pardon implies that one remits a penalty due for an admitted or established offense.

pardon a criminal

forgive implies that one gives up all claim to requital and to resentment or vengeful feelings.

could not forgive their rudeness

Examples of condone in a Sentence

"I don't condone violence, and I think 'gangsta rap' should be outlawed," says [designer Tommy] Hilfiger … Joshua Levine, Forbes, 21 Apr. 1997
Without waiting for Momma's thanks, he rode out of the yard, sure that things were as they should be and that he was a gentle squire, saving those deserving serfs from the laws of the land, which he condoned. Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969
And then she told him all—told him the truth word by word, without attempting to shield herself or condone her error. Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes, 1912
a government that has been accused of condoning racism he is too quick to condone his friend's faults
Recent Examples on the Web Plaintiffs, family members of the three people Mensah killed, also alleged in the suit that each shooting was caused by the Wauwatosa Police Department’s failure to train and supervise its officers properly and its practice of condoning and ratifying the use of excessive force. Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2024 Over the next six decades, the court condoned an entire code of race law and policies designed to segregate, marginalize, exclude and subjugate descendants of slavery across every realm of American life. Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for condone 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'condone.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin condonare to absolve, from com- + donare to give — more at donation

First Known Use

1805, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of condone was in 1805

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Dictionary Entries Near condone

Cite this Entry

“Condone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/condone. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

condone

verb
con·​done kən-ˈdōn How to pronounce condone (audio)
condoned; condoning
: to regard or treat (something bad) as acceptable, forgivable, or harmless
condones his friend's faults
condonation
ˌkän-də-ˈnā-shən
-dō-
noun
condoner
kən-ˈdō-nər
noun

Legal Definition

condone

transitive verb
con·​done kən-ˈdōn How to pronounce condone (audio)
condoned; condoning
: to pardon or overlook voluntarily
Etymology

Latin condonare to give away, absolve

More from Merriam-Webster on condone

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