Definition of: pardon

(pär′dən) v.t.
1. To remit the penalty of (a crime, insult, etc.).
2. To release from punishment; forgive for an offense.
3. To grant courteous allowance for or to: Pardon my French.
—noun
1. The act of pardoning; remission of penalty incurred.
2. A waiving, by sovereign prerogative, of the execution of the penal sanctions of the violated law: distinguished from justification.
3. Courteous forbearance; acquittal of blame: used in making polite excuses.
4. Law Remission of guilt; also, an official warrant declaring the act of pardon.
5. An indulgence. [<OF pardun <pardonner <LL perdonare grant <per- through + donare give]
—par′don·a·ble adjective
—par′don·a·bly adverb Synonyms (verb): absolve, acquit, condone, exculpate, excuse, forgive, overlook, release, remit. Forgive has reference to feelings, pardon to consequences; hence, the executive may pardon, but has nothing to do officially with forgiving. To pardon is the act of a superior, implying the right to punish; to forgive is the privilege of the humblest person who has been wronged or offended. In law, to remit the whole penalty is equivalent to pardoning the offender; but a part of a penalty may be remitted and the remainder inflicted, as where the penalty includes both fine and imprisonment. To condone is to put aside a recognized offense by some act which restores the offender to forfeited right or privilege, and is the act of a private individual, without legal formalities. To excuse is to overlook some slight offense, error, or breach of etiquette; pardon is often used by courtesy in nearly the same sense. Compare ABSOLVE, MERCY. Antonyms: castigate, chasten, chastise, condemn, convict, correct, doom, punish, recompense, scourge, sentence, visit. Synonyms (noun): absolution, acquittal, amnesty, forbearance, forgiveness, mercy, oblivion, remission. Acquittal is a release from a charge, after trial, as not guilty. Pardon is a removal of penalty from one who has been adjudged guilty. Acquittal is the adjudging one to be not guilty, as by the decision of a court, commonly of a jury; pardon is the act of the executive. An innocent man may demand acquittal, and need not plead for pardon. Oblivion signifies overlooking and virtually forgetting an offense, so that the offender stands before the law in all respects as if it had never been committed. Amnesty conveys the same idea. Pardon affects individuals; amnesty and oblivion are said of great numbers. Pardon is oftenest applied to the ordinary administration of law; amnesty or oblivion, to national and military affairs. An amnesty is issued after war, insurrection, or rebellion. Absolution is a religious word (compare synonyms for ABSOLVE). Remission is a discharge from penalty; as, the remission of a fine. Antonyms: penalty, punishment, retaliation, retribution, vengeance.