tolerance
C1Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
The ability or willingness to accept, allow, or endure something, especially opinions, beliefs, or behaviors that one does not necessarily agree with.
The capacity to withstand or be exposed to certain conditions (e.g., drugs, pain, heat) without adverse effects; permissible deviation from a standard in engineering or manufacturing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Tolerance implies a degree of acceptance or endurance rather than full approval. It often suggests putting up with something one finds unpleasant or disagreeable, as opposed to embracing it.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. In engineering contexts, both use the term identically.
Connotations
Can have positive connotations (acceptance, open-mindedness) or negative ones (mere endurance, putting up with something undesirable). The context heavily shapes this.
Frequency
Very high frequency in academic, social, and technical contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
tolerance for + noun/-ing (e.g., tolerance for noise)tolerance of + noun (e.g., tolerance of dissent)tolerance to + noun (e.g., tolerance to the drug)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “zero tolerance policy”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to acceptable error margins, risk thresholds, or diversity policies.
Academic
Frequent in social sciences discussing multiculturalism, ethics, and in biology/medicine discussing drug resistance.
Everyday
Used to discuss patience with others' habits or differing views.
Technical
In engineering, the permissible limit of variation in a physical dimension.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The community must learn to tolerate diverse viewpoints.
- This plant cannot tolerate frost.
American English
- We will not tolerate harassment in the workplace.
- The material tolerates extreme heat.
adverb
British English
- She listened tolerantly to their complaints.
American English
- He smiled tolerantly at their youthful enthusiasm.
adjective
British English
- He was remarkably tolerant of the constant delays.
- She is very tolerant when it comes to different cultures.
American English
- We need to be more tolerant of opposing opinions.
- The plant is drought-tolerant.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We must show tolerance to everyone.
- The teacher has no tolerance for shouting.
- Cultural tolerance is important in a global society.
- He has a high tolerance for spicy food.
- The government's policy of religious tolerance has fostered peace.
- Over time, patients can develop a tolerance to the medication.
- The philosophical treatise explored the limits of tolerance in a liberal democracy.
- The engineer specified a tight tolerance of ±0.1mm for the component.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'tolerate' as 'to let it be.' Tolerance is the quality of 'letting it be' even if you don't like it.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOLERANCE IS A CONTAINER (e.g., 'My tolerance for this is full.'), TOLERANCE IS A THRESHOLD/ LIMIT (e.g., 'He has reached his tolerance.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'терпимость' (toleration) and 'терпение' (patience). 'Tolerance' aligns more closely with 'терпимость' as an attitude, not 'терпение' as a personal endurance. The engineering term translates as 'допуск'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'tolerance' to mean 'patience' in all contexts (e.g., 'I have no tolerance for waiting' is less common than 'I have no patience for waiting'). Incorrect preposition: 'tolerance against' (correct: 'tolerance for/of/to').
Practice
Quiz
In an engineering context, 'tolerance' primarily refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Tolerance means allowing or enduring something you may not like or agree with. Approval means you agree with or support it.
Yes. It can imply merely 'putting up with' something negative rather than actively accepting it, and phrases like 'zero tolerance' frame it as a limit not to be crossed.
They are largely interchangeable. 'Tolerance of' is slightly more common for abstract concepts (tolerance of dissent), while 'tolerance for' is often used for physical or personal limits (tolerance for pain).
The most direct antonym is 'intolerance.' Others include 'bigotry,' 'prejudice,' and 'narrow-mindedness,' depending on context.
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Cultural Topics
B2 · 47 words · Analyzing culture, society and identity.
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