pardon

CEFRB1

/ˈpɑːdn̩/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To forgive someone for an offense or mistake.

  2. 02

    noun

    Official forgiveness for a crime.

Examples

  • I beg your pardon; I didn't quite catch your name.

  • The President[…]shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
2

Also pronounced

  • [ˈpʰäːɾɘn]
  • /ˈpaːdɘn/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. An order that releases a convicted criminal without further punishment, prevents future punishment, or (in some jurisdictions) removes an offence from a person's criminal record, as if it had never been committed.

  2. To forgive (a person).

noun

Extra meaning

  1. Forgiveness for an offence.

More examples

In context

  • I beg your pardon?

  • […] a step, that could not be taken with the least hope of ever obtaining pardon from or reconciliation with any of my friends; […]

  • According to this logic, the pardons Balteira gained on her pilgrimage should have revirginated her, and would have if she had an 'iron box', or a firm dedication to her Christian faith, with which to guard her chastity.”

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The judge decided to blank the man for his past crime.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English pardonen, from Old French pardoner (modern French pardonner), from Late Latin perdōnāre, from per- + dōnāre, possibly a calque (if not vice-versa) of a Germanic word represented by Frankish *firgeban (“to forgive, give up completely”), from *fir- + *geban. Akin to Old High German fargeban, firgeban (“to forgive”), Old English forġiefan (“to forgive”). More at forgive.