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

“It’s our system that allows the president to exercise his pardon power,” he said.

From Washington Post

Despite key testimony against him, Dwyer professed his innocence, even seeking a pardon from then-president Ronald Reagan.

From Ozy

As Ron Nehring, the former chairman of the Republican Party in San Diego and California put it, he did not deserve a pardon.

From Voice of San Diego

She was later acquitted of crimes against humanity and in 2018 received a presidential pardon.

From No Straight News

That question may or may not arise, but it’s one that calls for legal analysis about what the scope of the pardon power is.

From Washington Post

Wahlberg filed his petition for a pardon to the governor of Massachusetts on November 26.

From The Daily Beast

We won an unprecedented pardon from then-President Karzai, and Gulnaz was freed.

From The Daily Beast

The government should be asking the relatives of Alan Turing to pardon them for treating him so appallingly!

From The Daily Beast

“There aren't any steaks involved, pardon the pun,” says Chin.

From The Daily Beast

For all our sins, may the Force that makes forgiveness possible forgive us, pardon us, and make atonement possible.

From The Daily Beast

When the father had finished, he stabbed his wife, telling her to repent of her sins and to confess to God who would pardon her.

From Project Gutenberg

If your Majesty will accept mine, you will pardon me for being longer in the answer than was the question.

From Project Gutenberg

I am very much obliged for your continued favours, and beg pardon for so often troubling you.

From Project Gutenberg

If one man injures another, the prerogative of pardon should belong to the injured man.

From Project Gutenberg

The dust in the curtains, if you will pardon me for hinting such a thing, has parched my throat to a crisp.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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