zero tolerance
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of zero tolerance
First recorded in 1935–40
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.
"Everything has to be reviewed from the ground up with one objective: zero tolerance."
From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026
"There will be zero tolerance for civilians who take the law into their own hands," Maj Gen Avi Bluth said.
From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026
"Export markets demand zero tolerance on pests. Even if inspectors find a single fruit fly, the entire consignment is discarded, leading to huge losses," he says.
From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026
“But when you have this zero tolerance, when the quantity of arrests matters far more than the quality of arrests, you eliminate any ability to have that cooperation.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 31, 2026
When she says something about zero tolerance, Abby squeezes my hand.
From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli
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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.