pardon
Americannoun
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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?
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Law.
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a release from the penalty of an offense; a remission of penalty, as by a governor.
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the document by which such remission is declared.
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forgiveness of a serious offense or offender.
- Synonyms:
- remission, absolution
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Obsolete. a papal indulgence.
verb (used with object)
interjection
verb
noun
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forgiveness; allowance
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release from punishment for an offence
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the warrant granting such release
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a Roman Catholic indulgence
Related Words
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. See excuse.
Other Word Forms
- nonpardoning adjective
- pardonable adjective
- pardonableness noun
- pardonably adverb
- pardonless adjective
- unpardonable adjective
- unpardonably adverb
- unpardoned adjective
- unpardoning adjective
Etymology
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,” donation
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.
The system, created during her father Alberto Fujimori's term in office, was widely criticized for unfair trials that later forced the state to pardon hundreds of prisoners.
From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026
His former wife, who had been Fidesz’s justice minister, quit politics after signing off on the pardon.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
Oklahoma law requires that a pardon and parole board vote in favor of clemency before the governor makes his final decision.
From Slate • Mar. 6, 2026
The newly pardoned inmate was escorted to the captain’s office, where he used the captain’s phone to talk to Smith, his fellow pardon recipient, according to a source familiar with the situation.
From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026
If ’tis neither one nor the other, then ’tis neighbor against neighbor, or ’tis the lord of the manor against the peasants, begging thy pardon, young master.”
From "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite de Angeli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
