What does pardoned mean?
Pardoned is the past tense and past participle of pardon, meaning that someone has been officially forgiven for an offence. In legal usage, a pardon is granted by a competent authority, such as a monarch, president, governor, or other official, and may cancel a punishment or release someone from imprisonment. The word can therefore imply both forgiveness and relief from the consequences of wrongdoing. It is also used as an adjective before a noun, as in “the pardoned prisoner,” to identify a person who has received such forgiveness. Pardoned is more formal than simply forgiven and differs from acquitted: a pardon accepts that an offence was committed but grants forgiveness, whereas an acquittal declares that the accused did not commit it. The term is especially associated with legal and governmental acts, although it can also describe informal forgiveness.
To officially forgive someone for an offence, especially by cancelling or reducing a punishment imposed by law.
"The council pardoned the convicted man after reviewing the case."
This use is formal and is normally associated with an authority acting under legal or constitutional powers.
Having been officially forgiven for an offence or released from punishment by a pardon.
"The pardoned political prisoner returned home after years of imprisonment."
This attributive use commonly appears in legal, biographical, and historical writing.
A pardon forgives an offence, but it does not automatically declare the person innocent.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pardoned come from?
The word pardon entered Middle English from Old French pardon, ultimately derived from Latin perdonare, meaning “to forgive.” Its development reflects both the language of medieval legal institutions and the earlier religious use of forgiveness. The same Latin root appears in related forms such as French pardonner, Spanish perdonar, and Italian perdonare.
Related word forms
How pardoned is actually used
The word is formal and especially common in legal, governmental, and historical contexts. A pardon forgives an offence and may end or reduce a punishment, but it does not necessarily establish that the person was factually innocent or overturn the original conviction.