pardon
4 ENTRIES FOUND:
pardons;
pardoned;
pardoning
pardons;
pardoned;
pardoning
Britannica Dictionary definition of PARDON
[+ object]
1
:
to officially say that someone who is guilty of a crime will be allowed to go free and will not be punished
2
:
to say that someone should not be blamed for thinking, doing, or saying something
— usually used as (be) pardoned for
-
Voters can/should/could be pardoned for thinking this election would be different.
3
:
to officially say that a person, country, etc., does not have to pay (a debt)
-
The group wants the debt of the world's poorest countries to be pardoned. [=forgiven]
4
— used to be polite in asking questions or saying things that could be considered rude
-
Pardon my ignorance, but what does “naiveté” mean?
-
Pardon my asking, but is that your natural hair color?
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Pardon my saying so, but you look tired today. = You look tired today, if you'll pardon my saying so.
-
Pardon me for asking, but how old are you?
pardon me
1
— used as a polite way of starting to say something when you are interrupting someone, trying to get someone's attention, or disagreeing with someone
-
Pardon me, but can I speak to you privately for a moment?
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Pardon me, (but) you dropped this envelope.
-
Pardon me, but I believe you've made a mistake.
2
also
pardon
— used as a polite apology for a minor fault or offense (such as laughing, coughing, or bumping into someone)
-
Oh, pardon me. I didn't see you standing there.
-
Pardon—I didn't mean to bump you.
3
also
pardon
— used as a polite way of asking someone to repeat something spoken
-
Pardon me? I didn't hear you.
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“Are you ready to go?” “Pardon?” “I asked if you were ready to go.”
pardon my French
informal + humorous
— used to apologize for using offensive language
-
Everything he said is bullshit. Pardon my French.
pardon the expression
2
pardon
/ˈpɑɚdn̩/
noun
plural
pardons
2
pardon
/ˈpɑɚdn̩/
noun
plural
pardons
Britannica Dictionary definition of PARDON
[count]
1
:
an act of officially saying that someone who was judged to be guilty of a crime will be allowed to go free and will not be punished
-
The governor granted him a pardon.
-
She received a presidential/royal pardon. [=a pardon from a president or a king or queen]
2
formal
:
forgiveness for something
—
see also beg your pardon at beg
-
He asked/begged my pardon for taking so much of my time.
