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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.
Synonyms
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.
Often the term implies extenuating circumstances.
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.
pardon implies that one remits a penalty due for an admitted or established offense.
forgive implies that one gives up all claim to requital and to resentment or vengeful feelings.
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Cite this Entry
“Condone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/condone. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
condone
verbLegal Definition
Latin condonare to give away, absolve
More from Merriam-Webster on condone
Nglish: Translation of condone for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of condone for Arabic Speakers
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