intolerance
C1Formal (in social/political contexts), Medical/Technical (in physiological contexts)
Definition
Meaning
Unwillingness or refusal to accept views, beliefs, or behaviour that differ from one's own; inability to digest a particular food or substance.
Can refer to a societal attitude of bigotry, political or ideological rigidity, or a physiological condition. Often implies active opposition or discrimination, not just passive disapproval.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an abstract noun denoting a negative attitude or condition. Strongly negative connotation in social contexts; neutral in medical contexts (e.g., lactose intolerance).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical negative connotations in socio-political discourse. Identical neutral use in medical contexts.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
intolerance of + NOUN (intolerance of dissent)intolerance to + NOUN (intolerance to lactose)intolerance towards + NOUN (intolerance towards immigrants)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(have) a zero-tolerance policy (towards something)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) contexts: 'The company has no place for intolerance.'
Academic
Common in social sciences, political science, history, and medical literature: 'The study examines the roots of religious intolerance in the 17th century.'
Everyday
Used in discussions of social issues, news, and personal health: 'Her gluten intolerance means she can't eat regular bread.'
Technical
Standard term in medicine and nutrition for adverse physiological reactions: 'Diagnosis of fructose intolerance requires a hydrogen breath test.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The body can no longer tolerate lactose.
- Society must not tolerate such bigotry.
American English
- The body can no longer tolerate lactose.
- We will not tolerate hate speech.
adverb
British English
- He reacted intolerantly to the suggestion.
- She spoke intolerantly about their customs.
American English
- He reacted intolerantly to the suggestion.
- The policy was intolerantly enforced.
adjective
British English
- He is intolerant of any criticism.
- She is lactose intolerant.
American English
- He is intolerant of any criticism.
- I am gluten intolerant.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Milk makes me ill because I have lactose intolerance.
- The new law aims to reduce intolerance towards minority groups.
- Food intolerance is different from a food allergy.
- His political intolerance made dialogue with opposing parties impossible.
- Histamine intolerance can cause a wide range of puzzling symptoms.
- The regime's growing intolerance of dissent was evidenced by the shuttering of independent media outlets.
- Philosophical intolerance often stems from a rigid adherence to a single epistemological framework.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: IN (not) + TOLERANCE (putting up with something). It's the opposite of tolerance.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTOLERANCE IS A BARRIER/WALL (it blocks acceptance and understanding). INTOLERANCE IS A DISEASE/POISON (it spreads and corrupts a society).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'нетерпимость', which can also mean 'impatience'. Ensure context is clear. In medical contexts, Russian 'непереносимость' is a direct equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'intolerant of' with 'intolerant to' (often interchangeable, but 'of' for abstract concepts, 'to' for substances). Misspelling as 'intollerance'. Using where 'impatience' is meant.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'intolerance' typically NEUTRAL in connotation?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Intolerance' is a broader attitude of unwillingness to accept difference, which can lead to or include 'prejudice' (preconceived negative judgement). Intolerance is the attitude; prejudice is often a specific manifestation of it.
No. A food allergy involves the immune system and can be life-threatening (e.g., peanut allergy). A food intolerance is usually a digestive system issue, often due to enzyme deficiencies, and is generally not life-threatening (e.g., lactose intolerance).
Rarely. In a transferred sense, one might speak positively of 'intolerance for corruption' or 'intolerance of injustice', meaning a firm refusal to accept it. However, the word itself retains its negative core meaning of 'unaccepting'.
The preposition 'of' is most common for abstract concepts (intolerance of dissent). 'To' or 'towards' are also used, especially for groups (intolerance towards immigrants) or substances (intolerance to a drug).
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