condone

[ kuhn-dohn ]
See synonyms for: condonecondoningcondonable on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),con·doned, con·don·ing.
  1. to disregard or overlook (something illegal, objectionable, or the like): The government condoned the computer hacking among rival corporations.

  2. to give tacit approval to: By his silence, he seemed to condone their behavior.

  1. to pardon or forgive (an offense); excuse: His employers are willing to condone the exaggerations they uncovered in his résumé.

  2. to cause the condonation of; justify the pardoning of (an offense).

  3. 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.

Origin of condone

1
First recorded in 1615–25, but in general currency from its use in the British Divorce Act of 1857 (see def. 5 ); from Latin condōnāre “to absolve, grant pardon,” equivalent tocon- “with, together” + dōnāre “to give”; see origin at con-,donate

Other words from condone

  • con·don·a·ble, adjective
  • con·don·er, noun
  • un·con·doned, adjective
  • un·con·don·ing, adjective

Words Nearby condone

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How to use condone in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for condone

condone

/ (kənˈdəʊn) /


verb(tr)
  1. to overlook or forgive (an offence)

  2. law (esp of a spouse) to pardon or overlook (an offence, usually adultery)

Origin of condone

1
C19: from Latin condōnāre to remit a debt, from com- (intensive) + dōnāre to donate

Derived forms of condone

  • condonable, adjective
  • condonation (ˌkɒndəʊˈneɪʃən), noun
  • condoner, noun

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