tolerance
noun
tol·er·ance
| \ ˈtä-lə-rən(t)s
, ˈtäl-rən(t)s\
, ˈtäl-rən(t)s\
Definition of tolerance
2a
: sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own
b
: the act of allowing something : toleration
3
: the allowable deviation from a standard
especially
: the range of variation permitted in maintaining a specified dimension in machining a piece
4a(1)
: the capacity of the body to endure or become less responsive to a substance (such as a drug) or a physiological insult especially with repeated use or exposure
developed a tolerance to painkillers
also
: the immunological state marked by unresponsiveness to a specific antigen
(2)
: relative capacity of an organism to grow or thrive when subjected to an unfavorable environmental factor
b
: the maximum amount of a pesticide residue that may lawfully remain on or in food
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Synonyms & Antonyms for tolerance
Synonyms
forbearance, long-suffering, patience, sufferance
Antonyms
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Examples of tolerance in a Sentence
a tolerance for other lifestyles
The plants have a high tolerance for heat.
Some patients gradually develop a tolerance for the drug and need to be given a larger dose.
Some patients develop greater tolerance for the drug's effects.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Its political leadership and law enforcement officials don’t like anyone protesting against the government in Beijing and have no tolerance for democratic movements. — Emily Stewart, Vox, "How China used Facebook and Twitter to spread disinformation about the Hong Kong protests," 20 Aug. 2019 Miller is among the few administration officials who continue to defend zero-tolerance separations today, insisting the approach would have worked if the policy had continued. — al, "How Stephen Miller controls Trump’s immigration policy," 18 Aug. 2019 While on probation, Melchiorre urged Baldini to have a zero tolerance for alcohol use by Rich. — David Owens, courant.com, "Granby man pleads guilty to stabbing parents," 10 July 2019 While some rule-breakers may be warned rather than ejected, park officials have no tolerance for any sort of violence, particularly the kind captured on video, an incident that no doubt shook guests past and present. — Scott Craven, azcentral, "You can't fight at Disneyland. Here's what else can get you kicked out of the park," 9 July 2019 The zero-tolerance approach adopted by many governments has led to a host of social problems, including soaring prison costs and ill-health. — The Economist, "What is the most dangerous drug?," 25 June 2019 Massive crowds oppose US Immigration Policy at the #FamiliesBelongTogether Rallies Advertisement Thousands of protesters from major cities across the country are demonstrating to oppose Donald Trump's zero-tolerance immigration policy. — Kevin Sullivan, star-telegram, "In this Texas border town, immigration isn’t a problem — it’s a way of life," 7 July 2018 No one who is paying attention is arguing for zero tolerance. — Stephanie Apstein, SI.com, "MLB’s Inconsistent Domestic Violence Policy Lets Teams Benefit From Suspensions," 22 Aug. 2019 Instead designers of the social platforms fervently believed that connection would drive tolerance and counteract hate. — Claire Wardle, Scientific American, "Misinformation Has Created a New World Disorder," 20 Aug. 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tolerance.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for tolerance
tolerance
noun
English Language Learners Definition of tolerance
: willingness to accept feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from your own
: the ability to accept, experience, or survive something harmful or unpleasant
medical
: your body's ability to become adjusted to something (such as a drug) so that its effects are experienced less strongly
See the full definition for tolerance in the English Language Learners Dictionary
tolerance
noun
tol·er·ance
| \ ˈtä-lə-rəns
\
\
Kids Definition of tolerance
1
: ability to put up with something harmful, bad, or annoying
He was running out of tolerance for the pushy young cop.— Carl Hiaasen, Hoot
2
: sympathy for or acceptance of feelings or habits which are different from someone's own
tolerance
noun
tol·er·ance
| \ ˈtäl(-ə)-rən(t)s
\
\
Medical Definition of tolerance
1
: the capacity of the body to endure or become less responsive to a substance (as a drug) or a physiological insult especially with repeated use or exposure
developed a tolerance to painkillers
2
: the immunological state marked by unresponsiveness to a specific antigen
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