toleration

noun

tol·​er·​a·​tion ˌtä-lə-ˈrā-shən 

1

a

: the act or practice of tolerating something

b

: a government policy of permitting forms of religious belief and worship not officially established

2

: tolerance sense 4a(1)

Examples of toleration in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Charles Albert’s attitude toward Austria had stiffened in the years before 1846, and an unavowed toleration was given to the Turin moderates who emphasized the anti-Austrian rather than the constitutional aspects of the Italian problem. —Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026

His mom provided her stamp of approval (or at least toleration), and Banks saw his football career take off. —Dane Brugler, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026

At the same time, the phrase could be invoked to support religious toleration and in pleas for inclusiveness. —Margie Burns, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2025

These include, for example, actions that artificially favor foreign exports, deny nondiscriminatory market access for U.S. firms, harm U.S. competitors’ IP rights, and otherwise involve foreign government toleration of systematic anticompetitive activities. —Alden Abbott, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for toleration

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Medical Definition

toleration

noun

tol·​er·​a·​tion ˌtäl-ə-ˈrā-shən 

: tolerance