toleration

UK: /ˌtɒləˈreɪʃ^ən/ US: /ˌtɑləˈreɪʃən/ ,(tol′ə rā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tol•er•a•tion  (tol′ə rā′shən), n. 

1. an act or instance of tolerating, esp. of what is not actually approved;
   forbearance:
   to show toleration toward the protesters.
2. permission by law or government of the exercise of religions other than an established religion;
   noninterference in matters of private faith and worship.

• Latin tolerātiōn- (stem of tolerātiō). See tolerate, -ion
• 1510–20

tol′er•a ′tion•ism, n. 
tol′er•a ′tion•ist, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. See tolerance.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

toleration / ˌtɒləˈreɪʃən/ noun

1. the act or practice of tolerating
2. freedom to hold religious opinions that differ from the established or prescribed religion of a country

ˌtolerˈationist noun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

tol•er•ate /ˈtɑləˌreɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to allow (something that one does not like) to exist without prohibiting it or preventing it.
2. to endure; put up with:
   I cannot tolerate incompetence.

tol•er•a•tion /ˌtɑləˈreɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tol•er•ate  (tol′ə rāt′), v.t., -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to allow the existence, presence, practice, or act of without prohibition or hindrance;
   permit.
2. to endure without repugnance;
   put up with:
   I can tolerate laziness, but not incompetence.
3. [Med.] to endure or resist the action of (a drug, poison, etc.).
4. [Obs.] to experience, undergo, or sustain, as pain or hardship.

• Latin tolerātus, past participle of tolerāre to bear (akin to thole²); see -ate¹
• 1525–35

tol ′er•a′tive, adj. 
tol ′er•a′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. support, accept.