intolerance

American  

[in-tol-er-uhns] / ɪnˈtɒl ər əns /

noun

• intolerances
  plural

1. lack of tolerance; unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect opinions or beliefs contrary to one's own.

2. unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect persons of a different social group, especially members of a minority group.

3. incapacity or indisposition to bear or endure.

   intolerance to heat.

4. abnormal sensitivity or allergy to a food, drug, etc.

5. an intolerant act.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• intolerances
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of intolerance

From the Latin word intolerantia, dating back to 1755–65. See intolerant, -ance

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Explanation

Intolerance — or an unwillingness to accept the beliefs or behavior of someone different from you — is not a quality you want to have. Intolerance is what leads to hate crimes and discrimination. The word intolerance comes from a combination of the Latin in- meaning “not” and tolerantem meaning "to bear, endure.” Intolerance is not being able to bear or endure beliefs that are different from your own. You may commonly hear of it used with respect to religious intolerance, which is an unwillingness to accept different religious beliefs.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intolerance intolerances

Roughly two-thirds of the world’s population has some difficulty digesting the sugar in milk—also known as lactose intolerance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

Cornell’s examination of campus life identified how a culture of intolerance develops.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

"There is undoubtedly a level of intolerance creeping in which has become included in protest."

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

Still, the newly identified pathway provides several possible targets for medications designed to prevent statin intolerance.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 1, 2026

Now, Mary’s presence at the laboratory built on plantation land rebuked the shortsighted intolerance of her fellow Virginian.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Disruptions in this newly identified signaling pathway may play a role in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerances, and chronic visceral pain.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 28, 2026

This discovery may also help explain a range of digestive issues, including food intolerances and irritable bowel syndrome.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 28, 2026

The various infections, electrolyte imbalances and medication intolerances weakened her to the point of collapse.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2025

Maybe it's you — food intolerances are estimated to affect up to 25% of Australians.

From Salon ● Jan. 28, 2025

One quality they shared in common; there was one flaming harmony across their sky amid the wind-swept clouds of discontent and passing griefs and early intolerances, love.

From The Stronger Influence by F.E. Mills Young

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