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

• blink (at)
• brush (aside or off)
• discount
• disregard
• excuse
• forgive
• gloss (over)
• gloze (over)
• ignore
• overlook
• overpass
• paper over
• pardon
• pass over
• remit
• shrug off
• whitewash
• wink (at)

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

The company doesn’t condone drug use at its facilities, but security teams are prepared to de-escalate situations where people might be overwhelmed, Gassien said. —Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2025

This silence flies in the face of Oakland’s rich civil rights history and is tantamount to condoning hate. —Mark Cohen, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025

However, settlers of lands occupied by indigenous peoples – not just in Israel, but in other countries, too – have deployed these texts to condone mass violence. —Tamir Sorek, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2025

Will future generations celebrate or condone their use of natural resources, labor practices or any participation in the deportations of their day? —Sarah Federman, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 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