pardon
B2neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
to forgive or excuse someone for an offense; to release from penalty
an official act of forgiveness for a crime; a polite request to repeat what was said
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, can mean formal forgiveness (legal) or polite request for repetition. As verb, can mean to forgive officially or to excuse politely. The interjection 'pardon?' is common in British English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English uses 'pardon?' more frequently as a polite request for repetition. American English prefers 'excuse me?' or 'sorry?' in casual speech. The formal noun meaning (legal pardon) is identical.
Connotations
In UK, 'pardon' is considered polite but can sound overly formal or posh to some. In US, it may sound slightly old-fashioned or affected in casual contexts.
Frequency
More frequent in British English as an interjection; equally frequent in both varieties for formal/legal contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
pardon somebody (for something)pardon somethingbe pardoned for somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “pardon my French”
- “beg your pardon”
- “pardon me for living”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare in business contexts except in formal apologies: 'Pardon the delay in my response.'
Academic
Used in legal/political studies discussing executive clemency or historical acts of forgiveness.
Everyday
Common as polite interjection (UK) or when apologizing for minor social errors.
Technical
Legal term for executive clemency removing legal consequences of conviction.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- He received a royal pardon after new evidence emerged.
- I beg your pardon?
American English
- The governor granted a full pardon.
- 'Pardon?' she asked politely.
verb
British English
- The governor may pardon certain offenders.
- Pardon my interrupting.
American English
- The President pardoned the turkey for Thanksgiving.
- Pardon me, I didn't catch that.
interjection
British English
- Pardon? Could you speak up please?
- Pardon me, is this seat taken?
American English
- Pardon me for asking, but are you new here?
- 'Pardon?' he said, leaning forward.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Pardon? What did you say?
- Pardon me, I need to get past.
- The king granted a pardon to the prisoners.
- Pardon the mess, we're renovating.
- She was pardoned for her role in the protest after ten years.
- I beg your pardon, but I believe you're mistaken.
- The presidential pardon power is controversial when used for political allies.
- Pardoning such a serious offence would set a dangerous precedent.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PAR-DON: Imagine a PARent saying 'I forDON't blame you' → I pardon you.
Conceptual Metaphor
FORGIVENESS IS REMOVING A BURDEN; LEGAL PARDON IS ERASING A RECORD
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'прости' (извини) в casual извинениях
- 'Pardon me' не всегда означает 'извините', может быть 'повторите'
- В юридическом контексте точный перевод 'помилование'
Common Mistakes
- Using 'pardon' instead of 'excuse me' when trying to get past someone
- Saying 'pardon?' too formally in American casual speech
- Confusing 'I beg your pardon' (polite) with aggressive tone
Practice
Quiz
Which context is LEAST appropriate for using 'pardon' in American English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on context. As legal term it's formal; as interjection ('Pardon?') it's polite but can sound formal/posh in UK and old-fashioned in US casual speech.
'Pardon' often implies official/complete forgiveness, while 'excuse' is for minor offenses. 'Excuse me' is more common for getting attention or apologizing lightly.
Yes, especially in 'I beg your pardon?' with rising intonation to express shock/disbelief, or 'Pardon me for living!' as defensive sarcasm.
It's considered politer than 'what?' in many social contexts, though some Brits consider it overly proper. Regional and class variations exist.