What does pardonable mean?
Pardonable is an adjective meaning that an offence, mistake, or error is serious enough to be acknowledged but still capable of being forgiven. It is often used in formal and legal contexts, as in “a pardonable offence,” and can describe acts, errors, misunderstandings, or even broader moral failures. The word carries a somewhat traditional and elevated tone, making it more literary than the more general “forgivable.” Its contrast, “unpardonable,” describes something so objectionable or serious that forgiveness is considered impossible or inappropriate. Although “pardonable” does not mean that the conduct was insignificant, it suggests that the degree of wrongdoing is limited enough for forgiveness to remain possible. It can therefore express the idea that a mistake was serious in principle but not irredeemable in practice.
adjectiveCapable of being pardoned or forgiven; forgivable, especially when referring to an offence, error, or mistake.
- That may be pardoned or forgiven, especially an offence, mistake, or error.
"The judge considered the offence minor and pardonable."
"The minister described the breach of protocol as a pardonable error."
"Her apology suggested that the misunderstanding had been pardonable."
A pardonable offence is not necessarily harmless—it is simply an offence that can be forgiven.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pardonable come from?
Pardonable was formed in English by adding the suffix “-able” to “pardon,” producing an adjective meaning “able to be pardoned.” “Pardon” comes through Old French from Latin “perdonare,” a word associated with forgiveness or release, and is related to English forms such as “pardoner” and “pardonment.” The formation follows the common English pattern of turning a verb into an adjective with “-able.”
Related word forms
How pardonable is actually used
This is a formal or literary word, used especially in legal, moral, and evaluative contexts. It is less common in everyday speech than “forgivable.”
Easily confused with pardonable
A pardonable offence can be forgiven, whereas an unpardonable offence is considered too serious or objectionable to be forgiven.