Definition of CONDONE (original) (raw)
: to regard or treat (something bad or blameworthy) as acceptable, forgivable, or harmless
a government accused of condoning racism
condone corruption in politics
Did you know?
If you're among folks who don't condone even what they consider minor usage slips, you might want to hew to the more established meaning of condone. Although English speakers sometimes use condone to mean "encourage" or "approve of" (as in "officials accused of condoning corruption"), some people feel strongly that it should only mean something closer to "pardon" or "overlook." Condone comes from the Latin verb condonare, which means "to absolve." Condonare in turn combines the Latin prefix com-, indicating thoroughness, and donare, meaning "to give." Not surprisingly, donare is also the source of our words donate and pardon.
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for condone
excuse, condone, pardon, forgive mean to exact neither punishment nor redress.
excuse may refer to specific acts especially in social or conventional situations or the person responsible for these.
excused them for interrupting
Often the term implies extenuating circumstances.
injustice excuses strong responses
condone implies that one overlooks without censure behavior (such as dishonesty or violence) that involves a serious breach of a moral, ethical, or legal code, and the term may refer to the behavior or to the agent responsible for it.
a society that condones alcohol but not narcotics
pardon implies that one remits a penalty due for an admitted or established offense.
forgive implies that one gives up all claim to requital and to resentment or vengeful feelings.
could not forgive their rudeness
Examples of condone in a Sentence
"I don't condone violence, and I think 'gangsta rap' should be outlawed," says [designer Tommy] Hilfiger … —
Joshua Levine, Forbes, 21 Apr. 1997 Without waiting for Momma's thanks, he rode out of the yard, sure that things were as they should be and that he was a gentle squire, saving those deserving serfs from the laws of the land, which he condoned. —Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1969 And then she told him all—told him the truth word by word, without attempting to shield herself or condone her error. —Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes, 1912
a government that has been accused of condoning racism he is too quick to condone his friend's faults
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bosses who encouraged and condoned such attempts to evade the feds typically faced no repercussions. —Robin Abcarian, The Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2025 This Court will not condone such blatant disregard for the judicial process. —David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025 The program did not condone or include any violence. —Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 7 Jan. 2025 The banker was already susceptible to corruption — and now malfeasance will be condoned?! —Nathan Bomey, Axios, 7 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for condone 
Word History
Etymology
Latin condonare to absolve, from com- + donare to give — more at donation
First Known Use
1805, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of condone was in 1805
Dictionary Entries Near condone
Cite this Entry
“Condone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/condone. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 11 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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