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zero tolerance

American

noun

a policy of very strict, uncompromising enforcement of rules or laws.

zero tolerance British

noun

1. the policy of applying laws or penalties to even minor infringements of a code in order to reinforce its overall importance
2. ( as modifier )
  
  a zero-tolerance policy on drugs

"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

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.

See Examples For:

zero tolerance

“Safety is a cornerstone of our business and we have zero tolerance for inappropriate and unsafe behavior.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026

BYD says it stopped working with its contractor for the Brazil factory and that it has zero tolerance for violations of human rights and labor laws across its operations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

Into this chaos walks a man with an iron fist, a famous surname and zero tolerance for insubordination.

From BBC ● May 13, 2026

"We have zero tolerance for this behaviour and we have strong accountability measures in place."

From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2026

But this is not a complete or final solution, for a zero tolerance on paper is of little value.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023