Dictionary

1pardon

noun par·don \ˈpär-dən\

: an act of officially saying that someone who was judged to be guilty of a crime will be allowed to go free and will not be punished

: forgiveness for something

Full Definition of PARDON

1
:  indulgence 1
2
:  the excusing of an offense without exacting a penalty
3
a :  a release from the legal penalties of an offense
b :  an official warrant of remission of penalty
4
:  excuse or forgiveness for a fault, offense, or discourtesy <I beg your pardon>
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Origin of PARDON

Middle English, from Anglo-French pardun, pardoun, from parduner
First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with PARDON

2pardon

verb

: to officially say that someone who is guilty of a crime will be allowed to go free and will not be punished

: to say that someone should not be blamed for thinking, doing, or saying something

: to officially say that a person, country, etc., does not have to pay (a debt)

par·donedpar·don·ing \ˈpärd-niŋ, ˈpär-dən-iŋ\

Full Definition of PARDON

transitive verb
1
a :  to absolve from the consequences of a fault or crime
b :  to allow (an offense) to pass without punishment :  forgive
c :  to relieve of a penalty improperly assessed
2
:  tolerate

Origin of PARDON

Middle English, from Anglo-French parduner, from Late Latin perdonare to grant freely, from Latin per- thoroughly + donare to give — more at parboil, donation
First Known Use: 15th century

Synonym Discussion of PARDON

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 <excuse an interruption> <excused them for interrupting>. Often the term implies extenuating circumstances <injustice excuses strong responses>. condone implies that one overlooks without censure behavior (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 <pardon a criminal>. forgive implies that one gives up all claim to requital and to resentment or vengeful feelings <could not forgive their rudeness>.

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

Rhymes with PARDON

PARDON Defined for Kids

1pardon

noun par·don \ˈpär-dən\

Definition of PARDON for Kids

1
:  forgiveness for wrong or rude behavior
2
:  the act of freeing from legal punishment

2pardon

verb
par·donedpar·don·ing

Definition of PARDON for Kids

1
:  to free from penalty for a fault or crime <The prisoner was eventually pardoned.>
2
:  to allow (a wrong act) to pass without punishment :  forgive

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Next Word in the Dictionary: pardonablePrevious Word in the Dictionary: pardoAll Words Near: pardon
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