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
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have been condoningperfect progressive
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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:
"We do not condone or permit the use of open burning for land preparation or any other purpose across our operations," it said.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
“Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of the world do not condone power politics, conflict and confrontation, or isolation and backwardness.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 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
"We do not condone violence in any form, and the since-deleted video does not reflect our values or commitment to inclusivity and respect."
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
I sympathized with their situation, but I could not condone Matan- zima’s actions.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
The main objection is that it condones lying.
From New York Times ● Jan. 24, 2024
"That's not something this government condones," Mr Calvano says.
From BBC ● Jan. 3, 2024
Grove, whom I spoke with Thursday, was clear she condones none of those tactics “in any way, shape or form.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2023
Referees are human and make mistakes, players make loads of mistakes, but TV only ever focuses on referee mistakes and essentially condones abuse.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2022
To style errors of conduct "errors of judgment" denies, practically, that there are standards of action external to the individual, and condones official misbehavior on the ground of personal incompetency.
From Types of Naval Officers Drawn from the History of the British Navy by A. T. (Alfred Thayer) Mahan
Federal Aviation Administration managers have at times condoned the practice, The Wall Street Journal has reported.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
They said the agency at the time opted against tough discipline for controllers, in part because managers condoned the early shoves.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 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
Not unusual in these parts, but obviously not condoned by the Boyds.
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
It isn’t about the Court condoning Mr. Olivier’s speech.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026
If he had stayed it would have given the impression that "the culture wouldn't change and that we're condoning it", said Annie Nguyen, a 31-year-old American.
From Barron's ● Mar. 12, 2026
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
"I believe this is a crime against the territorial integrity of a neighbouring state. I'd be condoning it if I stayed silent."
From BBC ● Mar. 13, 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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