1
: willingness to accept feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from your own
religious tolerance
a tolerance for/of other lifestyles
2
: the ability to accept, experience, or survive something harmful or unpleasant
The plants have a high/low tolerance for/of heat.
I don't have much tolerance for cold weather. [=I dislike cold weather; cold weather makes me uncomfortable]
I have no tolerance for such behavior. [=I cannot accept/tolerate such behavior]
3
medical
: your body's ability to become adjusted to something (such as a drug) so that its effects are experienced less strongly
Some patients gradually develop a tolerance for the drug and need to be given a larger dose.
Some patients develop greater tolerance for the drug's effects.
Cite this Entry
“Tolerance.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/tolerance. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
Copy Citation
