condone
Americanverb (used with object)
-
condones,
present (3rd person singular)
-
condoned,
past participle, past
-
condoning
present participle
-
to disregard or overlook (something illegal, objectionable, or the like).
The government condoned the computer hacking among rival corporations.
-
to give tacit approval to.
By his silence, he seemed to condone their behavior.
-
to pardon or forgive (an offense); excuse.
His employers are willing to condone the exaggerations they uncovered in his résumé.
-
to cause the condonation of; justify the pardoning of (an offense).
-
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
-
to overlook or forgive (an offence)
-
law (esp of a spouse) to pardon or overlook (an offence, usually adultery)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
condonesimple
-
condonessimple
-
have condonedperfect
-
has condonedperfect
-
am condoningprogressive
-
are condoningprogressive
-
is condoningprogressive
-
have been condoningperfect progressive
-
has been condoningperfect progressive
Past
-
condonedsimple
-
had condonedperfect
-
was condoningprogressive
-
were condoningprogressive
-
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
The Hunger Games
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT words Beginning with "C"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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
STMicroelectronics said it doesn’t support or condone the use of its products in applications outside their intended purpose.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
"Obviously I don't condone stealing, but I really sympathise with any parent that finds themselves in a situation like that."
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
“It’s complicated and its not something I would condone … but the more attention that Scientology gets, the worse it is for Scientology,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026
From Jay in the Southeast: I stood up in a social studies class—the teacher wanted a discussion—and said I could never kill anyone or condone anyone who did kill anyone.
From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz
“Any claim that Chief Hoskin condones individuals or organizations claiming Cherokee identity for personal or organizational profit is false.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2025
"That's not something this government condones," Mr Calvano says.
From BBC ● Jan. 3, 2024
The Talmud, a set of commentaries on the Torah, specifically condones ransoming of hostages as a communal responsibility, and many ancient scholars considered being hostage a fate worse than death.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 4, 2023
“The Memphis Police Association is committed to the administration of justice and never condones the mistreatment of any citizen nor any abuse of power,” a statement from the association read.
From New York Times ● Jan. 28, 2023
Once a man condones remissness, his own belief in discipline begins to wither.
From The Armed Forces Officer Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-2 by United States. Dept. of Defense
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
Kwatra’s supervisors condoned his distribution of gift cards and other perks to clients to entice them to continue shopping at Saks, she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 12, 2025
The country's Securities Regulatory Commission found that PwC, as the auditor, had "covered up and even condoned" financial fraud at Evergrande.
From BBC ● Nov. 20, 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
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
Discola said that some people might mistakenly equate forgiveness with condoning the act itself.
From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2024
In January more than 100 NGOs and 500 activists and cultural figures urged Mr Tusk to end pushbacks and said his government was condoning human rights violations if it did not do so.
From BBC ● Apr. 27, 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
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.
