pardon
PAHDN
Pardon (noun) means Forgiveness for an offence. Example: “He begged her pardon for the careless remark.”
noun
1
Forgiveness for an offence.
"He begged her pardon for the careless remark."
"I ask your pardon for interrupting you during the speech."
"She gave him her pardon and the argument was soon forgotten."
2
An official act that releases someone from further punishment for a crime.
"The governor granted the prisoner a full pardon."
"After many years in prison, the man received a pardon and walked free."
"Supporters campaigned for a royal pardon for the wrongly convicted sailor."
verb
1
To forgive someone, or to excuse an offence officially.
"Please pardon my late reply — it's been a hectic week."
"The president pardoned several nonviolent offenders before leaving office."
"Pardon me, I think you are standing on my coat."
intj
1
Used to politely ask someone to repeat what they said, or as an apology for a minor slip.
""Pardon?" she said, cupping her ear. "I didn't catch that.""
"Pardon, I didn't hear what you said over the noise of the train."
"Oh, pardon! I didn't see you standing behind me."
How to use pardon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo forgive someone, or the official act of excusing a criminal conviction; also a polite way of saying "sorry, could you repeat that?"
Common pairings
beg pardon
grant a pardon
presidential pardon
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Word forms
- Plural
- pardons
- Third person singular
- pardons
- Past tense
- pardoned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He begged her _____ for the careless remark.
Etymology
From Old French pardoner, from Late Latin perdonare ("to give completely, forgive") — per- ("thoroughly") + donare ("to give"), the same root behind "donate."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for pardon
See all rhymes for pardon →Frequently asked questions
What does “pardon” mean?
The word “pardon” means forgiveness for an offence. In plain terms, to forgive someone, or the official act of excusing a criminal conviction; also a polite way of saying "sorry, could you repeat that?".
How do you pronounce “pardon”?
“Pardon” is pronounced PAHDN (/ˈpɑɹdn̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “pardon” in a sentence?
Here is “pardon” used in a sentence: “He begged her pardon for the careless remark.”
What part of speech is “pardon”?
Depending on how it is used, “pardon” can be a noun, a verb and an intj.
Where does the word “pardon” come from?
The word “pardon” comes from Late Latin. From Old French pardoner, from Late Latin perdonare ("to give completely, forgive") — per- ("thoroughly") + donare ("to give"), the same root behind "donate.".
Is “pardon” a common word?
“Pardon” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “pardon” have?
“Pardon” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: forgiveness for an offence.
What is the difference between a pardon and parole?
A pardon is an official act that forgives an offence and releases someone from further punishment, effectively erasing the legal consequences of the crime. Parole, by contrast, is early conditional release from prison while the sentence technically continues, requiring the person to follow rules and report to an officer.
When do you say "pardon" instead of "sorry"?
"Pardon" is typically used to politely ask someone to repeat something you didn't hear, as in "Pardon?" or "Pardon me?", while "sorry" more often serves as a general apology. "Pardon" can also work as a brief, slightly formal apology for a minor slip, such as bumping into someone.
Who has the authority to grant a pardon?
A pardon is typically granted by a head of state or other high government authority, since it is an official act releasing someone from further punishment for a crime. The specific process and authority vary by country and legal system.
