Meaning of tolerance in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈtɑl(ə)rəns/

    US accent Play button

    UK accent Play button

  1. Noun

    tolerance

    Etymology

    late Middle English (denoting the action of bearing hardship, or the ability to bear pain and hardship): via Old French from Latin tolerantia, from tolerare (see tolerate)

    Definitions

    1. the power or capacity of an organism to tolerate unfavorable environmental conditions
  2. 2. a disposition to allow freedom of choice and behavior

    Antonyms

  3. 3. the act of tolerating something

    Derived terms

  4. 4. willingness to recognize and respect the beliefs or practices of others

    Antonyms

  5. 5. a permissible difference

    Examples

    • « allowing some freedom to move within limits »

    Derived terms

Famous quotes

  • « Certainly tolerance and acceptance were at the forefront of my music. »
    Bruce Springsteen
  • « I had a lot of encouragement and tolerance from my parents, but I also have many friends who didn't get that from their parents and in a way they have more strength from spending years where nobody believed in them. »
    Michel Gondry
  • « What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of frailty and error let us pardon reciprocally each other's folly - that is the first law of nature. »
    Voltaire
  • « Black literature is taught as sociology, as tolerance, not as a serious, rigorous art form. »
    Toni Morrison
  • « Tolerance, compromise, understanding, acceptance, patience - I want those all to be very sharp tools in my shed. »
    Cee Lo Green

Browse dictionary