condonation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal/Legal
Quick answer
What does “condonation” mean?
The act of forgiving, pardoning, or overlooking an offense (especially by a spouse or partner).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of forgiving, pardoning, or overlooking an offense (especially by a spouse or partner).
Implied forgiveness or acceptance of a wrong by one's actions or inaction; an act or instance of overlooking or accepting a fault, often implying tacit approval.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in UK legal discourse, particularly in historical divorce law. In US law, the concept remains but the term is less frequently used in modern statutes, often replaced by 'forgiveness' or 'ratification'.
Connotations
Both carry a formal, legalistic connotation. In non-legal British English, it may be slightly more recognized as a high-register word for 'forgiveness'.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general English. Slightly higher in UK legal texts than in US legal texts.
Grammar
How to Use “condonation” in a Sentence
condonation of [offense/noun]condonation by [person/noun]through condonationVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “condonation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The court found he had condoned her infidelity by continuing cohabitation.
- The spouse may be held to have condoned the behaviour.
American English
- Her actions were seen as condoning the misconduct.
- The law does not condone such neglect.
adverb
British English
- He nodded condoningly, signalling the matter was closed.
- She smiled condoningly at the minor transgression.
American English
- The supervisor acted condoningly, which set a bad precedent.
- He waved his hand condoningly, dismissing the error.
adjective
British English
- The condonatory act barred his subsequent petition.
- His condonatory attitude was evident.
American English
- There was a condonatory silence from the management.
- The policy had a condonatory effect on violations.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in a compliance or ethics context, e.g., 'The board's inaction constituted condonation of the regulatory breach.'
Academic
Used in legal, historical, and sociological papers discussing marriage, divorce law, or theories of forgiveness.
Everyday
Virtually never used. A highly specialized term.
Technical
Core use is in legal terminology, specifically family law and ecclesiastical law (historical).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “condonation”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “condonation”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “condonation”
- Misspelling as 'condemnation' (opposite meaning).
- Using it as a synonym for simple 'tolerance'.
- Incorrect pronunciation: /kənˈdəʊ.nə.ʃən/ (stress error).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Condonation' is a specific type of forgiveness, often implied by actions (like continuing to live together) rather than explicitly stated, and it has strong legal consequences, especially in historical divorce law.
Yes, but it remains a formal word. It can describe the tacit acceptance or overlooking of any offense or breach of rules by someone in authority, e.g., 'The manager's condonation of late arrivals created a lax office culture.'
The verb is 'to condone'. 'Condonation' is the noun form describing the act or instance of condoning.
It can be either. It might be an active decision to forgive, but in law, it is often *implied* passively through behaviour (like continuing cohabitation), which is then interpreted as condonation.
The act of forgiving, pardoning, or overlooking an offense (especially by a spouse or partner).
Condonation is usually formal/legal in register.
Condonation: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒn.dəʊˈneɪ.ʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɑːn.doʊˈneɪ.ʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a technical term not used in idiomatic expressions.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CONDO' + 'NATION'. Imagine a nation forgiving another for building condos on its border. The act of forgiving (condonation) restores peace.
Conceptual Metaphor
FORGIVENESS IS A LEGAL DISCHARGE (pardon, waiver). WRONGDOING IS A DEBT (overlooked, forgiven).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'condonation' MOST specifically used?