tolerant

[ tol-er-uhnt ]

adjective

1. inclined or disposed to tolerate; showing tolerance; forbearing:

   tolerant of errors.

2. favoring toleration:

   a tolerant church.

3. Medicine/Medical, Immunology.
   1. able to endure or resist the action of a drug, poison, etc.
   2. lacking or exhibiting low levels of immune response to a normally immunogenic substance.

tolerant

/ ˈtɒlərənt /

adjective

1. able to tolerate the beliefs, actions, opinions, etc, of others
2. permissive
3. able to withstand extremes, as of heat and cold
4. med (of a patient) exhibiting tolerance to a drug

Derived Forms

• ˈtolerantly, adverb

Other Words From

• toler·ant·ly adverb
• non·toler·ant adjective
• non·toler·ant·ly adverb
• over·toler·ant adjective
• over·toler·ant·ly adverb
• quasi-toler·ant adjective
• quasi-toler·ant·ly adverb
• self-toler·ant adjective
• self-toler·ant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tolerant¹

First recorded in 1770–80; from Latin tolerant-, stem of tolerāns “bearing,” present participle of tolerāre “to bear”; tolerate

Example Sentences

Astronauts are pre-selected for personal attributes - tolerant, laid-back, calm - and trained to work as a team.

From BBC

“You can be so much more tolerant of people because you’re around people you wouldn’t normally even talk to, but you had a great experience playing with them. It’s just a way of connecting with people that transcends the normal way we connect. I do believe it’s transformative.”

From Los Angeles Times

Elise says the pain will only get worse as her body becomes more tolerant of painkillers – making them less effective.

From BBC

The department’s relatively tolerant posture toward undocumented people dates back to 1979, when then-Chief Daryl F. Gates responded to a wave of illegal immigration by trying to keep lines of communication open between officers and the communities they police.

From Los Angeles Times

"It has always been very tolerant."

From BBC

Related Words

• forgiving
• humane
• lenient
• liberal
• permissive
• progressive
• receptive
• sympathetic