condone
[ kuhn-dohn ]
/ kənˈdoʊn /
Save This Word!
verb (used with object), con·doned, con·don·ing.
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.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!
Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.
Question 1 of 7
“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.
Meet Grammar Coach
Improve Your Writing
Origin of condone
OTHER WORDS FROM condone
con·don·a·ble, adjectivecon·don·er, nounun·con·doned, adjectiveun·con·don·ing, adjectiveWords nearby condone
con dolore, condom, condominium, Condon, condonation, condone, condor, Condorcet, condottiere, conduce, conducive
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for condone
British Dictionary definitions for condone
condone
/ (kənˈdəʊn) /
verb (tr)
to overlook or forgive (an offence)
law (esp of a spouse) to pardon or overlook (an offence, usually adultery)
Derived forms of condone
condonable, adjectivecondonation (ˌkɒndəʊˈneɪʃən), nouncondoner, nounWord Origin for condone
C19: from Latin condōnāre to remit a debt, from com- (intensive) + dōnāre to donate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012