What does condoner mean?
A condoner is a person who condones something — that is, who treats conduct generally regarded as wrong as if it were acceptable or at least forgivable. The word typically implies tacit rather than active approval: a condoner does not necessarily praise the behaviour in question but fails to condemn or punish it, often through silence or deliberate inattention. Because of this, the term frequently carries a critical edge, suggesting moral laxity, weakness, or quiet complicity; describing someone as a condoner of corruption, cruelty, or deceit is rarely meant as a compliment. The word is derived from the verb 'condone', which traces back to the Latin 'condonare', meaning to give up or forgive, from 'donare' (to give). It belongs chiefly to formal, legal, and journalistic registers and appears far less often than the verb itself. Related forms include 'condonation', the act of forgiving or overlooking an offence.
nounA person who condones something; one who forgives, overlooks, or tacitly accepts behaviour regarded as wrong without openly approving of it.
- A person who forgives or overlooks wrongdoing, especially by failing to condemn it.
"By staying silent during the meeting, she risked being seen as a condoner of the committee's questionable practices."
"The report accused senior officials of acting as condoners of corruption within the department."
"Rather than confronting his friend's dishonesty, he became a passive condoner of it."
Standard English plural, formed by adding -s.
"History has been unkind to the condoners of tyranny."
A condoner never says the wrong thing was right — they just quietly decide not to say anything at all.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of condoner
Condoner derives from the verb 'condone', which entered English in the early nineteenth century from Latin 'condonare', meaning 'to give away' or 'to absolve', formed from 'con-' ('altogether') and 'donare' ('to give'). The agent suffix '-er' simply denotes a person who performs the action. It shares its ultimate root with words such as 'donor', 'donation', and 'pardon', all ultimately connected to the Latin gift-giving verb.
How condoner is actually used
Formal and relatively rare in everyday speech; the verb 'condone' and the noun 'condonation' are far more common. Often carries a mildly disapproving connotation, implying moral laxity or complicity through silence.
Easily confused with condoner
A condolence is an expression of sympathy for someone's suffering or loss, whereas a condoner is a person who overlooks or forgives wrongdoing.