Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense pardons, present participle pardoning, past tense, past participle pardoned
1.
See I beg your pardon
2. convention
People say 'I beg your pardon?' when they are surprised or offended by something that someone has just said.
[spoken, feelings]
'Would you get undressed, please?'—'I beg your pardon?'—'Will you get undressed?'
3. convention
You say 'I beg your pardon' or 'I do beg your pardon' as a way of apologizing for accidentally doing something wrong, such as disturbing someone or making a mistake.
[spoken, formulae]
I was impolite and I do beg your pardon.
'We're meant to do it quarterly actually.'—'Oh, I beg your pardon, I thought it wasmonthly.'
4. convention
Some people say 'Pardon me' instead of 'Excuse me' when they want to politely get someone's attention or interrupt them.
[mainly British, spoken, formulae]
Pardon me, are you finished, madam?
regional note: in AM, use excuse me
5. convention
You can say things like 'Pardon me for asking' or 'Pardon my frankness' as a way of showing you understand that what you are going to say may sound rude.
[spoken, politeness]
That, if you'll pardon my saying so, is neither here nor there.
6. convention
Some people say things like 'If you'll pardon the expression' or 'Pardon my French' just before or after saying something which they think might offend people.
[spoken, formulae]
It's enough to make you wet yourself, if you'll pardon the expression.
7. verb [usually passive]
If someone who has been found guilty of a crime is pardoned, they are officially allowed to go free and are not punished.
Hundreds of political prisoners were pardoned and released. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: acquit, free, release, liberate More Synonyms of pardon
Pardon is also a noun.
He was granted a presidential pardon.
More Synonyms of pardon
pardon in British English
(ˈpɑːdən)
verb(transitive)
1.
to excuse or forgive (a person) for (an offence, mistake, etc)
to pardon someone
to pardon a fault
noun
2.
forgiveness; allowance
3.
a.
release from punishment for an offence
b.
the warrant granting such release
4.
a Roman Catholic indulgence
sentence substitute
5. Also: pardon me, I beg your pardon
a.
sorry; excuse me
b.
what did you say?
Derived forms
pardonable (ˈpardonable)
adjective
pardonably (ˈpardonably)
adverb
pardonless (ˈpardonless)
adjective
Word origin
C13: from Old French, from Medieval Latin perdōnum, from perdōnāre to forgive freely, from Latin per (intensive) + dōnāre to grant
pardon in American English
(ˈpɑrdən)
verb transitive
1.
to release (a person) from further punishment for a crime
2.
to cancel or not exact penalty for (an offense); forgive
3.
a.
to excuse or forgive (a person) for some minor fault, discourtesy, etc.
b.
to overlook (a discourtesy, etc.)
noun
4.
a pardoning or being pardoned; forgiveness
5.
an official document granting a pardon
interjection
6.
pardon me: a mild apology
7.
please repeat what you have said: a request for information or clarification, often with the rising intonation of a question
SIMILAR WORDS: abˈsolve
Idioms:
I beg your pardon!
Derived forms
pardonable (ˈpardonable)
adjective
pardonably (ˈpardonably)
adverb
Word origin
ME pardonen < OFr pardoner < LL perdonare < L per-, through, quite (see per-) + donare, to give: see UNRESOLVED CROSS REF
Examples of 'pardon' in a sentence
pardon
French presidential pardons often prove controversial.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
French presidential pardons often prove controversial.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He was given a royal pardon after protests from around the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Amnesty is a pardon for an offence.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We have resignation honours list and they have presidential pardon lists?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The presidential power of pardon is unique and sweeping.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He was granted a presidential pardon last year.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Shields' pardon may be the last to be exercised in the present manner.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Days after he was killed, his family received a pardon.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
As he had been promised, he received a royal pardon.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He was jailed again in April last year then granted a royal pardon.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He instantly obeyed me -- came crouching up very much ashamed and lay down to beg my pardon.
Lesley Adkins EMPIRES OF THE PLAIN: Henry Rawlinson and the Lost Languages of Babylon (2003)
I beg your pardon for being useless.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
THERE should be a royal pardon for this man.
The Sun (2009)
In fact only five were hanged in the presence of the rest, who were then pardoned and released on parole.
Hugh Bicheno REBELS AND REDCOATS: The American Revolutionary War (2003)
He received a presidential pardon.
The Sun (2009)
I most humbly beg your pardon.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I prayed for forgiveness, then sought out our house painter and begged his pardon as well.
Christianity Today (2000)
I was all ready to indignantly beg your pardon and say that these are 100 per cent mine!
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Yesterday, the happy Hammers boss was prepared to officially pardon his skipper.
The Sun (2014)
The President issues a pardon.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Once installed he took great pride in his work, and during his tenure 57,000 people were pardoned.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
A US governor is now fighting to have the singer pardoned for his crime.
The Sun (2010)
Quotations
God will pardon me. It is His tradeHeinrich Heineon his deathbed
In other languages
pardon
British English: pardon /ˈpɑːdn/ INTERJECTION
You say `Pardon?' when you want someone to repeat what they have just said because you have not heard or understood it.
American English: pardon me?
Arabic: عَفْواً؟
Brazilian Portuguese: como disse?
Chinese: 对不起，请再说一遍
Croatian: oprostite?
Czech: prosím? co jste říkal?
Danish: undskyld
Dutch: pardon?
European Spanish: ¿cómo?
Finnish: anteeksi?
French: pardon ?
German: wie bitte?
Greek: παρακαλώ;
Italian: scusi?
Japanese: 何とおっしゃいましたか？
Korean: 뭐라고 하셨죠?
Norwegian: unnskyld?
Polish: słucham?
European Portuguese: como disse?
Romanian: pardon
Russian: простите?
Latin American Spanish: ¿cómo?
Swedish: hur sa?
Thai: ขอโทษ
Turkish: pardon?
Ukrainian: даруйте
Vietnamese: Gì ạ?
British English: pardon /ˈpɑːdn/ NOUN
If someone who has been found guilty of a crime is given a pardon, they are officially allowed to go free and are not punished.
He was granted a pardon.
American English: pardon
Arabic: عَفْوٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: indulto
Chinese: 赦免
Croatian: pomilovanje
Czech: milost odpuštění trestu
Danish: benådning
Dutch: pardon
European Spanish: perdón
Finnish: anteeksianto
French: pardon
German: Verzeihung
Greek: συγχώρεση
Italian: perdono
Japanese: 許し
Korean: 용서
Norwegian: tilgivelse
Polish: przebaczenie
European Portuguese: perdão
Romanian: grațiere
Russian: извинение
Latin American Spanish: perdón
Swedish: nåd
Thai: การให้อภัยโทษ
Turkish: bağışlama
Ukrainian: помилування
Vietnamese: sự tha thứ
British English: pardon VERB
If someone who has been found guilty of a crime is pardoned, they are officially allowed to go free and are not punished.
Hundreds of political prisoners were pardoned and released.
American English: pardon
Brazilian Portuguese: anistiar
Chinese: 赦免
European Spanish: indultar
French: gracier
German: begnadigen
Italian: graziare
Japanese: 赦免する
Korean: 사면되다
European Portuguese: amnistiar
Latin American Spanish: indultar
Chinese translation of 'pardon'
pardon
(ˈpɑːdn)
vt
(Law)[prisoner]赦免 (shèmiǎn)
(= forgive)[sin, error, person]原谅(諒) (yuánliàng)
n(c)
(Law) 赦免 (shèmiǎn)
to pardon sb for sth/for doing sth原谅(諒)某人某事/做某事 (yuánliàng mǒurén mǒushì/zuò mǒushì)
I beg your pardon!, pardon me! (= I'm sorry!) 对(對)不起！ (duìbuqǐ!)
(I beg your) pardon? or (US) pardon me? (= what did you say?) 请(請)问(問)您刚(剛)才说(說)什么(麼)？ (qǐngwèn nín gāngcái shuō shénme?)
pardon me! (esp Brit, to get attention) 劳(勞)驾(駕)！ (láojià!)
All related terms of 'pardon'
pardon me!
( esp Brit : to get attention ) 劳(勞)驾(駕)！ láojià!
I beg your pardon
( apologizing ) 对(對)不起 duìbuqǐ
I beg your pardon!, pardon me!
( I'm sorry! ) 对(對)不起！ duìbuqǐ!
(I beg your) pardon?
( what did you say? ) 请(請)问(問)您刚(剛)才说(說)什么(麼)？ qǐngwèn nín gāngcái shuō shénme?
to pardon sb for sth/for doing sth
原谅(諒)某人某事/做某事 yuánliàng mǒurén mǒushì/zuò mǒushì
(verb)
Definition
to forgive or excuse (a person) for (an offence, mistake etc)
Hundreds of political prisoners were pardoned and released.
Synonyms
acquit
He was acquitted of disorderly behaviour by magistrates.
free
They are going to free more prisoners.
release
He wants to be released from any promise between us.
liberate
How committed is the leadership to liberating its people from poverty?
reprieve
Fourteen people, waiting to be hanged, have been reprieved.
remit
amnesty
Last year Parliament amnestied the plotters.
let off (informal)
exonerate
The official report exonerated the school of any blame.
absolve
The judicial inquiry absolved the soldiers.
exculpate
Opposites
fine
,
discipline
,
punish
,
penalize
,
excoriate
1 (noun)
Definition
forgiveness
He asked God's pardon for his sins.
Synonyms
forgiveness
I offered up a prayer for forgiveness.
mercy
Neither side showed its prisoners any mercy.
indulgence
absolution
She felt as if his words had granted her absolution.
grace
He was granted four days' grace to be with his family.
Opposites
condemnation
2 (noun)
Definition
official release from punishment for a crime
They lobbied the government on his behalf and he was granted a pardon.
Synonyms
acquittal
the acquittal of all the accused
release
a blessed release from the obligation to work
discharge
The doctors began to discuss his discharge from hospital.
amnesty
Activists will not automatically be granted amnesty.
reprieve
a reprieve for eight people waiting to be hanged
remission
I've got 10 years and there's no remission for repeat offenders.
exoneration
the exoneration of an athlete who inadvertently took a banned drug
Opposites
penalty
,
punishment
, redress,
retribution
idiom
See pardon me
Quotation
God will pardon me. It is His trade [Heinrich Heine – on his deathbed]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of absolution
She felt as if his words had granted her absolution.
Synonyms
forgiveness,
release,
freedom,
liberation,
discharge,
amnesty,
mercy,
pardon,
indulgence,
exemption,
acquittal,
setting free,
remission,
vindication,
deliverance,
dispensation,
exoneration,
exculpation,
shriving,
condonation
in the sense of absolve
Definition
to declare to be free from blame or sin
The judicial inquiry absolved the soldiers.
Synonyms
excuse,
free,
clear,
release,
deliver,
loose,
forgive,
discharge,
liberate,
pardon,
exempt,
acquit,
vindicate,
remit,
let off,
set free,
exonerate,
exculpate,
shrive
in the sense of amnesty
Last year Parliament amnestied the plotters.
Synonyms
pardon,
free,
release,
excuse,
forgive,
overlook,
liberate,
acquit,
condone,
reprieve,
remit,
let off (informal),
exonerate,
absolve,
exculpate
Synonyms of 'pardon'
pardon
Explore 'pardon' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of amnesty
Definition
a general pardon for offences against a government
Activists will not automatically be granted amnesty.
Synonyms
general pardon,
mercy,
pardoning,
immunity,
forgiveness,
reprieve,
oblivion,
remission,
clemency,
dispensation,
absolution,
condonation
in the sense of discharge
Definition
dismissal or release from an office, job, etc.
The doctors began to discuss his discharge from hospital.
Synonyms
release,
liberation,
clearance,
pardon,
acquittal,
remittance,
exoneration
in the sense of exculpate
Definition
to free from blame or guilt
Synonyms
absolve,
free,
clear,
release,
dismiss,
excuse,
justify,
discharge,
pardon,
acquit,
vindicate,
exonerate
in the sense of exonerate
Definition
to clear (someone) of blame or a criminal charge
The official report exonerated the school of any blame.
Synonyms
acquit,
clear,
excuse,
pardon,
justify,
discharge,
vindicate,
absolve,
exculpate
in the sense of exoneration
the exoneration of an athlete who inadvertently took a banned drug
Synonyms
acquittal,
discharge,
amnesty,
justification,
pardon,
vindication,
absolution,
exculpation
in the sense of free
Definition
to release or liberate
They are going to free more prisoners.
Synonyms
release,
liberate,
let out,
set free,
deliver,
loose,
discharge,
unleash,
let go,
untie,
emancipate,
unchain,
turn loose,
uncage,
set at liberty,
unfetter,
disenthrall,
unbridle,
manumit
in the sense of grace
Definition
a delay granted for the completion of a task or payment of a debt
He was granted four days' grace to be with his family.
Synonyms
indulgence,
mercy,
pardon,
compassion,
quarter,
charity,
forgiveness,
reprieve,
clemency,
leniency,
lenity
in the sense of liberate
Definition
to release (a country) from enemy occupation
How committed is the leadership to liberating its people from poverty?
Synonyms
free,
release,
rescue,
save,
deliver,
discharge,
redeem,
let out,
set free,
let loose,
untie,
emancipate,
unchain,
unbind,
manumit
in the sense of mercy
Definition
the power to show mercy
Neither side showed its prisoners any mercy.
Synonyms
compassion,
charity,
pity,
forgiveness,
quarter,
favour,
grace,
kindness,
clemency,
leniency,
benevolence,
forbearance
in the sense of release
Definition
to free (someone) from obligation or duty
He wants to be released from any promise between us.
Synonyms
acquit,
excuse,
exempt,
let go,
dispense,
let off,
exonerate,
absolve
Additional synonyms
in the sense of release
a blessed release from the obligation to work
Synonyms
acquittal,
exemption,
let-off (informal),
dispensation,
absolution,
exoneration,
acquittance
in the sense of remission
Definition
a reduction in the length of a prison term
I've got 10 years and there's no remission for repeat offenders.
Synonyms
pardon,
release,
discharge,
amnesty,
forgiveness,
indulgence,
exemption,
reprieve,
acquittal,
absolution,
exoneration,
excuse
in the sense of reprieve
Definition
to postpone the execution of (a condemned person)
Fourteen people, waiting to be hanged, have been reprieved.