pardon
kind indulgence, as in forgiveness of an offense or discourtesy or in tolerance of a distraction or inconvenience: I beg your pardon, but which way is Spruce Street?
Law.
a release from the penalty of an offense; a remission of penalty, as by a governor.
the document by which such remission is declared.
forgiveness of a serious offense or offender.
Obsolete. a papal indulgence.
to make courteous allowance for or to excuse:Pardon me, madam.
to release (a person) from liability for an offense.
to remit the penalty of (an offense): The governor will not pardon your crime.
(used, with rising inflection, as an elliptical form of I beg your pardon, as when asking a speaker to repeat something not clearly heard or understood.)
Origin of pardon
1synonym study For pardon
Other words for pardon
Opposites for pardon
Other words from pardon
- par·don·a·ble, adjective
- par·don·a·ble·ness, noun
- par·don·a·bly, adverb
- par·don·less, adjective
- non·par·don·ing, adjective
- un·par·don·a·ble, adjective
- un·par·don·a·bly, adverb
- un·par·doned, adjective
- un·par·don·ing, adjective
Words that may be confused with pardon
Words Nearby pardon
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use pardon in a sentence
“It’s our system that allows the president to exercise his pardon power,” he said.
Virginia U.S. attorney close to Bill Barr stepping down | Rachel Weiner | January 5, 2021 | Washington PostDespite key testimony against him, Dwyer professed his innocence, even seeking a pardon from then-president Ronald Reagan.
As Ron Nehring, the former chairman of the Republican Party in San Diego and California put it, he did not deserve a pardon.
Politics Report: Shirley Weber’s Shoes to Fill | Scott Lewis | December 26, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoShe was later acquitted of crimes against humanity and in 2018 received a presidential pardon.
Why It’s Important To See Women As Capable … Of Terrible Atrocities | LGBTQ-Editor | November 21, 2020 | No Straight NewsThat question may or may not arise, but it’s one that calls for legal analysis about what the scope of the pardon power is.
Barrett confirmation hearing day three: Barrett declines to say whether it’s wrong to separate migrant children from parents | Derek Hawkins, Seung Min Kim, Ann Marimow, Karoun Demirjian | October 14, 2020 | Washington Post
Wahlberg filed his petition for a pardon to the governor of Massachusetts on November 26.
LAPD Foundation: Mark Wahlberg Would Make a Good Reserve Cop | Asawin Suebsaeng | December 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWe won an unprecedented pardon from then-President Karzai, and Gulnaz was freed.
The government should be asking the relatives of Alan Turing to pardon them for treating him so appallingly!
Charles Dance on Tywin Lannister’s S5 Return, A ‘Game of Thrones’ Movie,’ and Sexy Peter Dinklage | Marlow Stern | November 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“There aren't any steaks involved, pardon the pun,” says Chin.
Adventure Photographer Jimmy Chin: Defying the Rational, Physically and Creatively | Oliver Jones | October 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFor all our sins, may the Force that makes forgiveness possible forgive us, pardon us, and make atonement possible.
Jews and Non-Jews Need to Repent for the Sins of the U.S. and Israel | Rabbi Michael Lerner | September 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen the father had finished, he stabbed his wife, telling her to repent of her sins and to confess to God who would pardon her.
If your Majesty will accept mine, you will pardon me for being longer in the answer than was the question.
I am very much obliged for your continued favours, and beg pardon for so often troubling you.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2) | Francis TrevithickIf one man injures another, the prerogative of pardon should belong to the injured man.
God and my Neighbour | Robert BlatchfordThe dust in the curtains, if you will pardon me for hinting such a thing, has parched my throat to a crisp.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate Chopin
British Dictionary definitions for pardon
/ (ˈpɑːdən) /
to excuse or forgive (a person) for (an offence, mistake, etc): to pardon someone; to pardon a fault
forgiveness; allowance
release from punishment for an offence
the warrant granting such release
a Roman Catholic indulgence
Also: pardon me, I beg your pardon
sorry; excuse me
what did you say?
Origin of pardon
1Derived forms of pardon
- pardonable, adjective
- pardonably, adverb
- pardonless, adjective
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with pardon
see beg to differ; excuse me.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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