Condone
/kənˈdoʊn/
Definitions
To accept and allow (wrongful behavior) to continue, often by overlooking it or treating it as not serious.
/kənˈdoʊn/
To accept or allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue.
The school will not condone any form of bullying.
💡 Simply: Imagine your friend cheats on a test, and the teacher says nothing. The teacher is condoning the cheating – letting it happen without punishment.
👶 For kids: When you let someone do something bad and you don't tell them to stop, you condone it.
More Examples
By ignoring the problem, the authorities appeared to condone the violence.
We cannot condone such irresponsible behavior.
How It's Used
"The company cannot condone the unethical actions of its employees."
"The government was accused of condoning human rights abuses."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
From Latin *condonare* ('to give, remit, pardon'), from *con-* (together) + *donare* (to give). It originally implied a formal remission of a debt or penalty.
The word gained more traction in the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly in contexts of moral judgment and legal proceedings.
Memory tip
Think of someone giving a 'con' (cheat) a 'don' (pass) – they are condoning the cheating.
Word Origin
"to give, remit, pardon"