toleration
Americannoun
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an act or instance of tolerating, especially of what is not actually approved; forbearance.
to show toleration toward the protesters.
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permission by law or government of the exercise of religions other than an established religion; noninterference in matters of private faith and worship.
noun
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the act or practice of tolerating
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freedom to hold religious opinions that differ from the established or prescribed religion of a country
Synonym Usage
See tolerance.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of toleration
First recorded in 1510–20, toleration is from the Latin word tolerātiōn- (stem of tolerātiō ). See tolerate, -ion
Explanation
Toleration is the practice of allowing or putting up with something, especially if you disagree with it. Religious toleration is an important founding principle of the United States. When you tolerate something, allowing it to exist without interfering, you could say you're practicing either toleration or tolerance. Toleration tends to be used when this permission is more reluctant; if the majority of a nation's citizens practice one religion, and they very grudgingly allow other minority religions to be practiced, that's toleration. Originally defined as "permission granted by authority," toleration has a Latin root meaning "to bear or endure."
Vocabulary lists containing toleration
European Colonization of North America, Lessons 3–5
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Chapters 7–9
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In 1649, the Maryland Toleration Act, providing for freedom of worship for all Christians, was passed by the Maryland assembly.
From Washington Times • Apr. 21, 2021
In 1816, Connecticut's Democratic-Republicans rebranded themselves as the Toleration Party.
From Salon • Sep. 12, 2020
Written some 20 years before A Letter Concerning Toleration, its very title cuts against the grain of much of what we know of his thought.
From The Guardian • Sep. 8, 2019
Duly Noted: On this date In 1649, the Maryland Toleration Act, providing for freedom of worship for all Christians, was passed by the Maryland assembly.
From US News • Apr. 21, 2015
The Toleration Act, passed in 1689, released dissent from many penalties.
From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 2: Ebert to Estremadura by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
