condone
Americanverb (used with object)
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condones,
present (3rd person singular)
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condoned,
past participle, past
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condoning
present participle
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to disregard or overlook (something illegal, objectionable, or the like).
The government condoned the computer hacking among rival corporations.
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to give tacit approval to.
By his silence, he seemed to condone their behavior.
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to pardon or forgive (an offense); excuse.
His employers are willing to condone the exaggerations they uncovered in his résumé.
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to cause the condonation of; justify the pardoning of (an offense).
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Law. to forgive or act so as to imply forgiveness of (a violation of the marriage vow).
His spouse condoned his infidelity from the early years of their marriage.
verb
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to overlook or forgive (an offence)
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law (esp of a spouse) to pardon or overlook (an offence, usually adultery)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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condonesimple
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condonessimple
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have condonedperfect
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has condonedperfect
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am condoningprogressive
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are condoningprogressive
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is condoningprogressive
-
have been condoningperfect progressive
-
has been condoningperfect progressive
Past
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condonedsimple
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had condonedperfect
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was condoningprogressive
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were condoningprogressive
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had been condoningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of condone
First recorded in 1615–25, but in general currency from its use in the British Divorce Act of 1857 (see condone def. 5 ); from Latin condōnāre “to absolve, grant pardon,” equivalent to con- “with, together” + dōnāre “to give”; see origin at con-, donate
Explanation
If you condone something, you allow it, approve of it, or at least can live with it. Some teachers condone chewing gum, and some don't. Things that are condoned are allowed, even if everyone isn't exactly thrilled about it. People often say, "I don't condone what he did, but I understand it." Condoning is like excusing something. People seem to talk more about things they don't condone than things they do condone. Your mom might say, "I don't condone you staying up till 10, but I know you need to read." That's a way of giving approval and not giving approval at the same time.
Vocabulary lists containing condone
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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.
See Examples For:
An inquiry into the sectarian murder of Robert Hamill has found police officers who were in a vehicle near the attack did not condone or collude with the attackers.
From BBC ● Sep. 14, 2026
In 2017, he was disinvited from speaking at CPAC, a US conservative conference that also hosted Trump, after footage emerged of Yiannopoulos appearing to condone paedophilia.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
IOC President Kirsty Coventry said the group didn’t condone war, “but I don’t believe athletes should pay the price.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
“I want to be clear that the city of Riverside doesn’t condone this behavior, but we are responsible for fixing the situation that led to it,” she said at the June 9 City Council meeting.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
My brother had privately agonized over whether to go or not—titillated by the opportunity but knowing it was sneaky and dishonorable, the sort of behavior my parents would never condone.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
"No one there condones civilian killings - they know the pain of losing loved ones too well."
From BBC ● May 2, 2025
"That's not something this government condones," Mr Calvano says.
From BBC ● Jan. 3, 2024
“Nobody condones this. But he legally is entitled to give his public comment.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2023
He is the author of, most recently, “Dirty Work,” about the morally troubling jobs that society tacitly condones.
From New York Times ● Jun. 15, 2023
Charity forgives where justice punishes and mercy condones.
From The Grey Cloak by Thomas Mitchell Peirce
Of course, none of this is condoned by the networking app itself.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
The Central Asian leader, who is a Moscow ally but who has never condoned Russia's offensive, said the roots of the war are "not understandable".
From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026
The firm has denied all wrongdoing and said it “categorically does not engage in, nor has it ever condoned, the exchange of money for client retention.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 21, 2026
Furey added that Kwatra’s supervisors condoned his distribution of gift cards and other perks to clients to entice them to continue shopping at Saks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 25, 2025
"He's more use alive than dead. And my lord father never condoned the murder of prisoners after a battle."
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
An advert for Huel meal replacement shakes has been banned by the advertising watchdog for encouraging or condoning "irresponsible" dietary practices.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
It isn’t about the Court condoning Mr. Olivier’s speech.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026
Tadjadit's lawyer, Fetta Sadat, said in a post on Facebook that her client was convicted of "condoning terrorism", "supporting terrorist organisations" and "spreading extremist ideas", among other charges.
From Barron's ● Nov. 11, 2025
This new perspective allowed the woman to separate the concept of forgiveness from condoning the crime, providing a way to untangle complex emotions.
From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2024
In the evening, “I often have to shut my ears to their gossip. If I join in, I feel as though I’m condoning them and I feel bad.”
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
