pardon

[ pahr-dn ]

/ ˈpɑr dn /

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See synonyms for: pardon / pardoned / pardonable on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

verb (used with object)

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.

interjection

(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.)

SYNONYMS FOR pardon

3 absolution, remission.

6 acquit, clear.

7 forgive, absolve, condone, overlook.

See synonyms for pardon on Thesaurus.com

ANTONYMS FOR pardon

5 censure, blame.

See antonyms for pardon on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of pardon

First recorded in 1300–50; (noun) Middle English pardoun(e), from Old French, Middle French pardon, pardun, perdun (French pardon ), from Medieval Latin perdōnum ; (verb) Middle English pardonen, perdonen, from Anglo-French, Old French pardoner, perduner (French pardonner), from Medieval Latin perdōnāre “to give freely, overlook,” equivalent to Latin intensive prefix per- per- + dōnāre “to give,” see donation

synonym study for pardon

3. Pardon, amnesty, reprieve are nouns referring to the cancellation, or delay with the possibility of eventual cancellation, of a punishment or penalty assigned for the violation of a military regulation or a civil law; absolution from guilt is not implied, merely a remission of the penalty. A pardon is granted to an individual, often by the action of a government official such as a governor, president, or monarch, and releases the individual from any punishment due for the infraction of the law, as a death sentence, prison term, or fine: to be released from prison with a full pardon. An amnesty is a pardon granted to a group of persons for past offenses against a government; it often includes an assurance of no future prosecution: to grant amnesty to political prisoners; an amnesty period for delinquent taxpayers during which no penalties are assessed. A reprieve is a delay of impending punishment, especially a death sentence; it does not cancel or remit the punishment, it simply delays it, usually for a specific period of time or until a decision can be arrived at as to the possibility of pardon or reduction of sentence: a last-minute reprieve, allowing the filing of an appeal to the Supreme Court. 6. See excuse.

OTHER WORDS FROM pardon

par·don·a·ble, adjectivepar·don·a·ble·ness, nounpar·don·a·bly, adverbpar·don·less, adjective

non·par·don·ing, adjectiveun·par·don·a·ble, adjectiveun·par·don·a·bly, adverbun·par·doned, adjectiveun·par·don·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pardon

commute, forgive, pardon

Words nearby pardon

pard, pardah, pardalote, pardi, pardner, pardon, pardoner, Pardubice, pare, paregmenon, paregoric

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for pardon

“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 Post
Despite key testimony against him, Dwyer professed his innocence, even seeking a pardon from then-president Ronald Reagan.
The Ballad of R. Budd Dwyer|Fiona Zublin|January 4, 2021|Ozy
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 Diego
She 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 News

That 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|DAILY BEAST
We won an unprecedented pardon from then-President Karzai, and Gulnaz was freed.
We’re Not Done in Afghanistan|Kimberley Motley|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|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|DAILY BEAST
For 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|DAILY BEAST
When the father had finished, he stabbed his wife, telling her to repent of her sins and to confess to God who would pardon her.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
If your Majesty will accept mine, you will pardon me for being longer in the answer than was the question.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
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 Trevithick
If one man injures another, the prerogative of pardon should belong to the injured man.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
The 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

pardon

/ (ˈpɑːdən) /

verb (tr)

to excuse or forgive (a person) for (an offence, mistake, etc)to pardon someone; to pardon a fault

noun

forgiveness; allowance

release from punishment for an offence
the warrant granting such release

a Roman Catholic indulgence

sentence substitute

Also: pardon me, I beg your pardon

sorry; excuse me
what did you say?

Derived forms of pardon

pardonable, adjectivepardonably, adverbpardonless, adjective

Word Origin for pardon

C13: from Old French, from Medieval Latin perdōnum, from perdōnāre to forgive freely, from Latin per (intensive) + dōnāre to grant

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

Idioms and Phrases with pardon

pardon

see beg to differ; excuse me.

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