condone

[ kuhn-dohn ]

/ kənˈdoʊn /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: condone / condoning / condonable on Thesaurus.com

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.

QUIZ

ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!

Question 1 of 7

True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of condone

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 to con- “with, together” + dōnāre “to give”; see origin at con-,donate

OTHER WORDS FROM condone

con·don·a·ble, adjectivecon·don·er, nounun·con·doned, adjectiveun·con·don·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use condone in a sentence

Hundreds gather to watch and toast the Nittany Lions, and though Barron supported the return of football, he can’t help wondering what else he condoned, even encouraged, with his vote.
Football is back in Happy Valley. The coronavirus never left.|Kent Babb|October 30, 2020|Washington Post
Jeff Hymes, a 29-year-old scientist at a biotech start-up outside Raleigh, doesn’t condone Cunningham’s behavior, but contrasts it with what he sees as Tillis’s own credibility problem.
In N.C., voters call Cunningham’s infidelity reckless, shocking. They still vote for the Democrat.|Rachael Bade, Pam Kelley|October 21, 2020|Washington Post
Second, large banking institutions like JPMorgan Chase are condoning and even welcoming digital currencies onto their platforms.
Why 2020 might be the year cryptocurrency goes mainstream|jakemeth|August 24, 2020|Fortune
Rafael Peretz, an Orthodox rabbi who is the head of the ultranationalist United Right party, last year condoned the use of conversion therapy when he was Israel’s education minister.
Israel lawmakers move to ban conversion therapy|Kaela Roeder|August 12, 2020|Washington Blade

That’s because people will condone all kinds of violence in the name of protecting themselves, said Christian Davenport, professor of political science at the University of Michigan.
What Happened In Portland Shows Just How Fragile Our Democracy Is|Maggie Koerth (maggie.koerth-baker@fivethirtyeight.com)|August 5, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Yet violent images are condoned in the “right” circumstances so long as they do not celebrate brutality.
Porn Stars Want to Know: Why Did Facebook Delete Me?|Aurora Snow|August 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The coaches thought that if it seemed like they condoned it, people wouldn't let their kids come play for Baylor.
Sham Classes and Crime Coverups Are the NCAA Normal|Robert Silverman|June 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Moreover, neither the Polish government in exile nor the leaders of the Home Army condoned anti-Semitic measures.
‘Generation War’ Lets World War II Germans Off Too Easily|Jack Schwartz|January 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“The thought or notion that this kind of behavior is condoned or authorized is just absurd,” Sullivan said, almost scoffing.
Senate Panel Quizzes Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan on Colombian Prostitutes|Daniel Stone|May 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Allegations of church-condoned baby trafficking are not confined to Spain.
Spain’s Baby-Snatching Scandal Focuses on Nun’s Alleged Role|Mike Elkin|April 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He condoned the infamous conduct of the police officer Contenson.
Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z|Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois Christophe
Giz is somewhat dirtier than Lut'er but the dirt is less assimilated and consequently less to be condoned.
Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays|Various
They have defended and condoned the industrial exploitation of children.
The Necessity of Atheism|Dr. D.M. Brooks
He had invaded the territory of a neutral power and driven off its representatives; but everything was condoned.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume XII|John Lord
While the marriage of the clergy was checked, irregular and temporary connexions were lightly condoned.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 4|Various

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, noun

Word 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

condone

Origin of condone

OTHER WORDS FROM condone

Words related to condone

How to use condone in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for condone

Derived forms of condone

Word Origin for condone