pardon
[verb]
Synonyms:
- forgive, absolve, acquit, excuse, exonerate, let off (informal), overlook
[noun]
Synonyms:
- forgiveness, absolution, acquittal, amnesty, exoneration

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Antonyms: punishment, punish
Contrasted words: conviction, condemnation, amerce, fine, mulct, penalize
Related Idioms: let bygones be bygones, wipe the slate clean
Related Words: acquittal, exculpation, exoneration, indemnification, indemnity, forgiveness, remission, justification, vindication, justify, accept, tolerate, free, liberate, release

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. par‧don¹ S2 /ˈpɑːdn $ ˈpɑːrdn/ (also ˌpardon ˈme) interjection

1. used when you want someone to repeat something because you did not hear it:
‘Hurry up Jonathan!’ ‘Pardon?’ ‘I said hurry up!’

2. British English used to say ‘sorry’ after you have made an impolite sound such as a burp Synonym : excuse me

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. pardon² verb [transitive]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: pardoner, from Late Latin perdonare 'to give freely']

1. to officially allow someone who has been found guilty of a crime to go free without being punished:
The two spies were pardoned yesterday by the President.

2. [not in progressive] formal to forgive someone for behaving badly Synonym : forgive
pardon somebody for something
He could never pardon her for the things she had said.

3. somebody may be pardoned for doing something used to say that it is easy to understand why someone has done something or why they think something:
Anyone reading the advertisement might be pardoned for thinking that the offer was genuine.

4. pardon me spoken
a) used to say ‘sorry’ politely when you have accidentally pushed someone or interrupted them:
Oh, pardon me, I didn’t mean to disturb you.
b) used to say ‘sorry’ politely after you have made an impolite sound such as a burp
c) used before you politely correct someone or disagree with them:
James, if you’ll pardon me, you’ve got it all wrong.
d) used to politely get someone’s attention in order to ask them a question Synonym : excuse me:
Pardon me, can you direct me to City Hall?

5. pardon me for interrupting/asking/saying spoken used to politely ask if you can interrupt someone, ask them a question, or tell them something:
Pardon me for saying so, but you don’t look well.

6. pardon my ignorance/rudeness etc spoken used when you want to say something which you think may make you seem not to know enough or not to be polite enough:
Pardon my ignorance, but what does OPEC stand for?

7. if you’ll pardon the expression spoken used when you are saying that you are sorry for using an impolite phrase:
It was a bit of a cock-up, if you’ll pardon the expression.

8. pardon my French spoken used humorously to say that you are sorry for using a swear word

9. pardon me for breathing/living spoken used when you are annoyed because you think someone has answered you angrily for no good reason:
‘Shut up, Callum!’ ‘Well, pardon me for breathing.’

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. pardon³ noun [countable]

1. an official order allowing someone who has been found guilty of a crime to go free without being punished
grant/give somebody a pardon
Tyler was convicted but was granted a royal pardon (=one given by a king or queen).

2. ask/beg sb’s pardon (for something) old-fashioned to ask someone to forgive you:
Walter begged her pardon for all the pain he had caused her.
⇒ I beg your pardon at beg(4)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

pardon
noun
ADJ. full | partial | conditional | general | free | posthumous | presidential, royal
VERB + PARDON give sb, grant sb | offer sb The government offered a free pardon to the rebels.
buy, obtain, receive | ask (for), seek | refuse
PREP. ~ for She asked for pardon for her crime.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

pardon
I.
noun
BAD: I beg your pardon, but I was very busy and couldn't spare the time.
GOOD: I'm sorry, but I was very busy and couldn't spare the time.
BAD: I'd like to beg your pardon because I was late.
GOOD: I'm sorry I was late.
GOOD: Please forgive me for being late.

Usage Note:
I beg your pardon is used (1) to apologize to a stranger because you have bumped into them by accident, sat in their seat by mistake, etc: 'I beg your pardon. I didn't know the tabel was reserved.'
(2) to politely ask someone to repeat what they have said: 'Does this bus go to Marble Arch?' 'I beg your pardon?' 'This bus, does it go to Marble Arch?'
(3) when someone has said something that makes you feel surprised, shocked, angry etc: 'Who's that man with the long nose?' 'I beg your pardon! That happens to be my husband.'
Note that in formal situations you can use excuse/forgive me instead of I'm sorry : 'Please excuse me for taking so long to answer your letter.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

pardon
II.
verb
BAD: I asked the teacher if I could be pardoned for a few minutes.
GOOD: I asked the teacher if I could be excused for a few minutes.

Usage Note:
pardon (formal) = forgive: 'I'm sure they will pardon the occasional mistake.'
excuse = give someone permission to stay away from school, work etc, or leave a classroom, meeting etc: 'Can I be excused from swimming today please? I've got a cold.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲