noun

tolerance

/ˈtɒlərəns/ · say it: TAL·ur·uhns

an allowable amount of variation

In more detail

1. (noun) the ability to accept or allow something that you disagree with or that is different from what you like

2. (noun) the ability of your body to become used to a drug or substance so that you need more of it to have the same effect

3. (noun) the amount of variation that is allowed in the measurements or qualities of something

Examples

1. The teacher showed great tolerance toward students with different learning styles.
2. Athletes who use steroids may develop tolerance and need higher doses.
3. The manufacturer's tolerance for errors in the product is very small.

How to use tolerance

Tolerance refers to accepting differences or allowing variation, though it does not necessarily imply approval. Sense 1 is common in social and political contexts, emphasizing patience with disagreement or difference. Sense 2 applies specifically to how organisms adapt to repeated exposure to drugs or stimuli. Sense 3 is technical, used in engineering and manufacturing to specify acceptable deviations from specifications.

Common phrases

religious tolerance
show tolerance
build tolerance
drug tolerance
zero tolerance
tolerance for pain

Synonyms

acceptance · forbearance · patience · openness · understanding

Opposites

intolerance · bigotry · prejudice

Word family

tolerate · tolerant · tolerantly · tolerable · tolerably

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use 'tolerance' to mean 'approval' or 'encouragement,' but it means acceptance without necessarily endorsing the thing tolerated; you can tolerate something while still disagreeing with it.

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