Tolerance

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈtÉ’ləɹəns/

Origin

From Middle French tolerance, from Latin tolerantia ("endurance"), from tolerans, present participle of Latin tolerō ("endure").

Full definition of tolerance

Noun

1. (uncountable, obsolete) The ability to endure pain or hardship; endurance. 15th-19th c.
2. (uncountable) The ability or practice of tolerating; an acceptance or patience with the beliefs, opinions or practices of others; a lack of bigotry. from 18th c.
3. (uncountable) The ability of the body (or other organism) to resist the action of a poison, to cope with a dangerous drug or to survive infection by an organism. from 19th c.
4. (countable) The variation or deviation from a standard, especially the maximum permitted variation in an engineering measurement. from 20th c.
5. (uncountable) The ability of the body to accept a tissue graft without rejection. from 20th c.

Antonyms

• intolerance

Related terms

• tolerability
• tolerable
• tolerant
• tolerate
• toleration

Anagrams

• coeternal