condone

verb

con·​done kən-ˈdōn 

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

kən-ˈdō-nə-bəl 

adjective

condoner noun

Did you know?

If you're among folks who don't condone even what they consider minor usage slips, you might want to hew to the more established meaning of condone. Although English speakers sometimes use condone to mean "encourage" or "approve of" (as in "officials accused of condoning corruption"), some people feel strongly that it should only mean something closer to "pardon" or "overlook." Condone comes from the Latin verb condonare, which means "to absolve." Condonare in turn combines the Latin prefix com-, indicating thoroughness, and donare, meaning "to give." Not surprisingly, donare is also the source of our words donate and pardon.

Synonyms

• ignore
• forgive
• overlook
• justify
• explain
• excuse

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

While nobody in college football is condoning that type of reaction from fans, the emotions of losing The Game are what will keep it relevant even in an era when the stakes aren’t as high, Carpenter said. —Austin Meek, New York Times, 7 July 2025

Blackman's blatant attempt to circumvent Rogers can't be condoned, Petersen said. —Ray Stern, AZCentral.com, 7 July 2025

Like many Iranian Americans in L.A., Samadi doesn’t condone the leadership of Iran, which his parents fled the country to escape. —Lauren Ng, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2025

Billions of dollars in funding to Harvard was paused over claims that the school condoned antisemitism on campus, a move that threatens critical public health research, including one of the longest-running studies on nutrition and chronic disease. —Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 23 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1805, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for condone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• curbstone
• cyclone
• dethrone

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Kids Definition

condone

verb

con·​done kən-ˈdōn 

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 

condoned; condoning

: to pardon or overlook voluntarily

Etymology

Latin condonare to give away, absolve