Explanation at your level:
You use condone when you see something bad, but you do not stop it. If a friend breaks a rule and you say nothing, you might be condoning it. It is a serious word for when you let bad things happen.
If you condone an action, you accept it even if it is wrong. For example, if a teacher sees a student cheating and does nothing, the teacher is condoning the cheating. It means you are not punishing the bad behavior.
Condone is used to describe when someone allows behavior that is generally considered unacceptable. It is often used in negative sentences like 'The company does not condone violence.' It implies that by staying silent, you are actually supporting the bad action.
In professional or academic contexts, condone suggests a lack of moral objection to a negative act. It is a formal way of saying 'to ignore' or 'to tolerate.' Unlike 'forgive,' which implies a personal reconciliation, 'condone' implies a systemic or social acceptance of a wrongdoing.
The usage of condone often carries a weight of moral judgment. It is frequently employed in political or social commentary to criticize authorities for failing to act against injustice. When you state that a leader 'condones' corruption, you are accusing them of complicity through their inaction.
Etymologically derived from condonare, the term has transitioned from a sense of 'gracious pardon' to a 'tacit authorization of misconduct.' In sophisticated discourse, it serves as a sharp tool for identifying moral negligence. It is distinct from 'acquiesce,' as 'condone' specifically targets the ethical status of the behavior being permitted.
Mot en 30 secondes
- Condone means to allow or overlook bad behavior.
- It is almost always used in a negative context.
- It implies a lack of moral objection.
- It is a formal, high-register verb.
Have you ever seen someone do something wrong, but you just stayed quiet and let it slide? If so, you might have condoned that behavior. When we use the word condone, we are talking about the act of overlooking or accepting something that is generally considered offensive, illegal, or just plain wrong.
It is important to understand that condone isn't just about ignoring something; it often carries a sense of passive approval. By refusing to take action or speak up, you are essentially giving the person a 'green light' to keep doing what they are doing. It is a powerful word often used in discussions about ethics, workplace behavior, and social responsibility.
The word condone comes to us from the Latin word condonare, which is a combination of com- (meaning 'together' or 'with') and donare (meaning 'to give'). Interestingly, the original Latin meaning was 'to give away' or 'to forgive completely.' Over time, the meaning shifted in English.
While it started out as a way to describe forgiveness, the modern usage has become much more specific to the idea of 'allowing' bad behavior. It evolved through the 19th century to take on that slightly negative connotation we use today. It is a great example of how words can change from a positive act of grace into a word that often implies moral negligence.
You will mostly hear condone in formal or serious settings. It is very common in news reports, legal discussions, or when someone is setting firm boundaries. You might hear a boss say, 'I do not condone lateness in this office,' which is a very clear way of saying it will not be tolerated.
The word is almost always used in the negative form: 'I cannot condone this.' It is rare to hear someone say they 'do' condone something unless they are being very specific about their moral stance. It is a high-register word, so avoid using it in casual texts to friends; 'letting it slide' or 'ignoring it' would be much more natural there.
While condone is a specific verb, it relates to several idioms that describe similar concepts:
- Turn a blind eye: To pretend not to notice something wrong.
- Look the other way: To deliberately ignore a wrongdoing.
- Give the green light: To give permission for something to proceed.
- Sweep under the rug: To hide or ignore a problem rather than fixing it.
- Let it slide: To allow a mistake to pass without consequences.
Condone is a regular verb. Its forms are: condone (base), condones (third-person singular), condoned (past tense), and condoning (present participle). It is a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object—you must condone something.
The IPA is /kənˈdoʊn/. The stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with words like phone, stone, and alone. Be careful not to confuse it with con-done, which might sound like 'done'—the 'o' sounds like the 'o' in 'go'.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'donate'.
Pronunciation Guide
kuhn-DOHN
kuhn-DOHN
Common Errors
- pronouncing the 'o' as in 'done'
- stressing the first syllable
- swallowing the final 'n'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Moderate
Advanced
Moderate
Moderate
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avanc
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
I condone it.
Gerunds
I condone cheating.
Negative Verb Phrases
I do not condone.
Examples by Level
I do not condone lying.
I don't accept lying.
Use with a gerund.
They condone the rules.
They allow the rules.
Transitive verb.
Do not condone it.
Don't allow it.
Imperative.
She will not condone this.
She will not permit this.
Future tense.
He does not condone bad acts.
He doesn't like bad things.
Present tense.
We never condone violence.
We don't allow violence.
Adverb placement.
Did you condone that?
Did you allow that?
Past question.
They condone the behavior.
They accept the conduct.
Formal usage.
I cannot condone your actions.
The school does not condone bullying.
Do you condone this behavior?
He refuses to condone the theft.
They will not condone such language.
We do not condone cheating.
She doesn't condone being late.
Why do you condone that?
The manager does not condone unprofessional conduct.
Public opinion does not condone his recent choices.
It is hard to condone such a reckless decision.
The law does not condone discrimination.
They were accused of condoning the illegal activity.
I find it impossible to condone his lack of effort.
The committee does not condone the use of force.
He was warned not to condone the rule-breaking.
The government was criticized for tacitly condoning the violence.
She felt that by staying silent, she was essentially condoning his behavior.
His refusal to speak out was seen as condoning the injustice.
We cannot condone the violation of our core values.
The policy does not condone any form of harassment.
It is a slippery slope to condone minor infractions.
They were accused of condoning a culture of corruption.
I cannot condone the way this project was handled.
To condone such negligence is to invite further disaster.
The institution's silence was interpreted as condoning the abuse.
He argued that the system was designed to condone corruption.
One cannot condone the erosion of democratic principles.
The essay explores how society often condones systemic inequality.
She refused to condone the unethical practices of her firm.
By condoning these actions, they lost all credibility.
The report highlights the dangers of condoning minor ethical breaches.
The historical record suggests the monarchy condoned the uprising.
To condone the status quo is to perpetuate the cycle of oppression.
His rhetoric seemed to condone a radical shift in policy.
The philosophical debate centers on whether silence is equivalent to condoning.
The author argues that we must not condone the normalization of hate.
The judge noted that the law does not condone vigilantism.
Such behavior is rarely condoned in polite society.
Her critique was aimed at those who condone the exploitation of workers.
Collocations courantes
Idioms & Expressions
"look the other way"
to ignore something bad
The guard looked the other way.
neutral"turn a blind eye"
to pretend not to see a problem
They turned a blind eye to the mess.
neutral"sweep under the rug"
to hide a problem
Don't try to sweep this under the rug.
casual"give a pass"
to excuse someone
I'll give you a pass this time.
casual"let it slide"
to ignore a mistake
I'll let it slide for now.
casual"wash one's hands of"
to stop being responsible
I wash my hands of this project.
formalEasily Confused
similar sound
condemn is to disapprove, condone is to allow
I condemn the act, I do not condone it.
similar start
concede is to admit defeat
He conceded the game.
similar sound
console is to comfort
I consoled her.
none
N/A
N/A
Sentence Patterns
Subject + do not + condone + noun
I do not condone violence.
Subject + will not + condone + gerund
She will not condone cheating.
It is impossible to + condone + noun
It is impossible to condone this.
The law does not + condone + noun
The law does not condone theft.
They were accused of + condoning + noun
They were accused of condoning abuse.
Famille de mots
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Apparenté
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Erreurs courantes
Condone implies allowing future bad behavior, not just forgiving past ones.
Condone is only a verb.
You must say what you are condoning.
It is almost always used for bad things.
The 'o' is long.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a judge closing their eyes at a crime scene.
Native Speakers
Use it to sound firm about rules.
Cultural Insight
It implies moral responsibility.
Grammar Shortcut
Always follow with a noun or -ing verb.
Say It Right
Emphasis on the second syllable.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it for good things.
Did You Know?
It comes from the same root as 'donate'.
Study Smart
Create a list of things you do not condone.
Writing Tip
Use it in essays to show strong disapproval.
Speaking Tip
Use it to set boundaries.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Con-DONE: If you don't stop it, you are 'con-done' (conning yourself into thinking it's done/over).
Visual Association
A person watching a mess and turning their back.
Word Web
Défi
Write three sentences about things you do not condone.
Origine du mot
Latin
Original meaning: to give away or forgive
Contexte culturel
None, but implies moral judgment.
Used heavily in legal and corporate settings to denote lack of enforcement.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- do not condone lateness
- condone harassment
- condone poor performance
at school
- do not condone cheating
- condone bullying
- condone skipping class
in law
- condone illegal acts
- condone violence
- condone corruption
in society
- condone discrimination
- condone inequality
- condone prejudice
Conversation Starters
"What is one thing you absolutely do not condone?"
"Why do you think people sometimes condone bad behavior?"
"Is it ever okay to condone a small mistake?"
"How does society condone certain actions?"
"Have you ever seen someone condone something you disagreed with?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you saw someone condone something wrong.
Describe why it is important not to condone bullying.
Reflect on the difference between forgiving and condoning.
How can we stop condoning bad habits in ourselves?
Questions fréquentes
8 questionsYes, it is almost exclusively used for negative behavior.
You condone an action, not a person.
Yes, it is common in formal writing.
No, forgive is personal; condone is about allowing bad behavior.
Condemn.
kuhn-DOHN.
It is common in news and professional settings.
No, you must condone an action.
Teste-toi
I do not ___ that behavior.
Condone fits the context of behavior.
What does condone mean?
Condone means to allow or overlook.
Condone is usually used for positive things.
It is used for negative things.
Word
Signification
Matching synonyms and antonyms.
I do not condone this.
Score : /5
Summary
To condone is to allow a wrongdoing to continue by failing to stop it.
- Condone means to allow or overlook bad behavior.
- It is almost always used in a negative context.
- It implies a lack of moral objection.
- It is a formal, high-register verb.
Memory Palace
Imagine a judge closing their eyes at a crime scene.
Native Speakers
Use it to sound firm about rules.
Cultural Insight
It implies moral responsibility.
Grammar Shortcut
Always follow with a noun or -ing verb.
