tolerant
TOL-er-uhnt
/ˈtɒlərənt/
Showing willingness to allow the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.
Implies active restraint and respect for differences rather than blind endorsement.
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin 'tolerare' (to lift up, bear, or endure). During the 18th-century European Enlightenment, philosophers adopted the word to advocate for religious peace after centuries of sectarian war.
Word relationships
- broad-minded: Broad-minded emphasizes expansive curiosity; tolerant emphasizes patient coexistence.
- forbearing: Forbearing involves withholding punishment; tolerant involves accepting ideological differences.
- intolerant: Unwilling to grant equal freedom to differing views.
- prejudiced: Having preconceived hostility toward others.
Commonly confused with
- tolerable: Tolerable means barely acceptable or fair; tolerant describes a person who accepts differences.
Word family
- tolerate (verb): To allow or endure without interference.
- tolerance (noun): The ability or willingness to tolerate something.
Collocations
- tolerant attitude
- tolerant society
- highly tolerant
- be tolerant of
Idioms & expressions
- live and let live
- fair-minded
Example sentences
- "A healthy democratic society depends on citizens who are tolerant of diverse religious and political views." Societal values
- "The desert plant is highly tolerant of prolonged drought and extreme summer temperatures." Biological context
Memory hook
TOLERANT people TALK through differences instead of fighting. Bearing weight without breaking.
When not to use
Do not use to describe enthusiasm; tolerance means accepting the presence of something, not loving it.
Fun facts
- In engineering, 'tolerance' refers to the permissible limit of variation in a physical dimension without ruining the machine.
Related words
Explore more words
intolerance, coexistence, condone, charitable, inclusive, reserved
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