Definition

Noun: 1. The act of forgiving or overlooking an offense, especially a marital wrong like adultery, by treating the offender as if the offense had not occurred. It implies implied forgiveness through subsequent behavior, often with the condition that the offense will not be repeated.

Usage

Condonation is a formal term, primarily used in legal and marital contexts. It refers to a situation where one party, by their actions or acceptance, effectively pardons a wrong committed by another. This pardon is not always explicit but is inferred from behavior that continues or resumes the relationship as normal after the offense is known.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The court ruled that the wife's decision to continue living with her husband after learning of his affair constituted condonation of his adultery.
  • His condonation of the employee's repeated tardiness eventually led to broader disciplinary problems in the office.
  • In some legal systems, condonation can be a defense against certain claims, as it implies the offended party has forgiven the act.

Advanced Usage

• Legal Principle: In law, particularly divorce law, can be a bar to filing a complaint for a past offense, as it is seen as the plaintiff having forgiven the defendant and reinstated them to marital rights.
  • The act of resuming marital relations was viewed as condonation, preventing it from being cited as grounds for divorce.

Variants and Related Words

• Condone (verb): To accept or allow (behavior that is considered wrong) to continue.
  • The manager does not condone the use of personal phones during work hours.

Synonyms

• Forgiveness: The action or process of ceasing to feel resentment for an offense.
• Pardon: The action of forgiving or being forgiven for an error or offense.
• Overlooking: To fail to notice or ignore (something), typically a mistake or fault.

Antonyms

• Condemnation: The expression of very strong disapproval.
• Punishment: The infliction or imposition of a penalty for an offense.

Noun

1. a pardon by treating the offender as if the offense had not occurred