pardon

[ pahr-dn ]

noun

1. 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?

2. Law.
   1. a release from the penalty of an offense; a remission of penalty, as by a governor.
   2. the document by which such remission is declared.
3. forgiveness of a serious offense or offender.

   Synonyms: remission, absolution

4. Obsolete. a papal indulgence.

verb (used with object)

1. to make courteous allowance for or to excuse:

   Pardon me, madam.

   Antonyms: blame, censure

2. to release (a person) from liability for an offense.

   Synonyms: clear, acquit

3. to remit the penalty of (an offense):

   The governor will not pardon your crime.

   Synonyms: overlook, condone, absolve, forgive

interjection

1. (used, with rising inflection, as an elliptical form of I beg your pardon, as when asking a speaker to repeat something not clearly heard or understood.)

pardon

/ ˈpɑːdən /

verb

1. to excuse or forgive (a person) for (an offence, mistake, etc)

   to pardon someone

   to pardon a fault

noun

1. forgiveness; allowance
2. 1. release from punishment for an offence
   2. the warrant granting such release
3. a Roman Catholic indulgence

sentence substitute

1. Alsopardon meI beg your pardon
   1. sorry; excuse me
   2. what did you say?

Derived Forms

• ˈpardonably, adverb
• ˈpardonable, adjective
• ˈpardonless, adjective

Other Words From

• pardon·a·ble adjective
• pardon·a·ble·ness noun
• pardon·a·bly adverb
• pardon·less adjective
• non·pardon·ing adjective
• un·pardon·a·ble adjective
• un·pardon·a·bly adverb
• un·pardoned adjective
• un·pardon·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pardon¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pardon¹

C13: from Old French, from Medieval Latin perdōnum, from perdōnāre to forgive freely, from Latin per (intensive) + dōnāre to grant

Idioms and Phrases

see beg to differ ; excuse me .

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

What, though, is there left to say a man who has already been credibly and publicly accused of sex crimes while being nominated by a man from whom he previously sought a pardon for sex trafficking?

From Salon

Now Dempsey is among a large number of Jan. 6 defendants who are anxiously awaiting news from President-elect Donald Trump on whether and how he will make good on a sometimes muddled campaign promise to pardon them.

From Los Angeles Times

“We’re all on our heels and preparing for anything — whether that is nothing happening, or more individualized relief, or a blanket pardon,” said Amy Collins, a Washington-based attorney who represents several Jan. 6 defendants, including Dempsey.

From Los Angeles Times

At a CNN town hall in May 2023, Trump said he was “inclined to pardon many of them,” but couldn’t “say for every single one because a couple of them, probably, they got out of control.”

From Los Angeles Times

“He has pretty much unlimited authority to do whatever he wants once he takes office,” said Kim Wehle, a professor at the University of Baltimore Law School and the author of “Pardon Power: How The Pardon System Works.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• absolution
• allowance
• amnesty
• clemency
• mercy
• remission
• reprieve