tolerance
noun
tol·er·ance
ˈtä-lə-rən(t)s 
ˈtäl-rən(t)s
2
a
: sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own
b
: the act of allowing something : toleration
3
: the allowable deviation from a standard
especially
: the range of variation permitted in maintaining a specified dimension in machining a piece
4
a(1)
: the capacity of the body to endure or become less responsive to a substance (such as a drug) or a physiological insult especially with repeated use or exposure
developed a tolerance to painkillers
also
: the immunological state marked by unresponsiveness to a specific antigen
(2)
: relative capacity of an organism to grow or thrive when subjected to an unfavorable environmental factor
b
: the maximum amount of a pesticide residue that may lawfully remain on or in food
Examples of tolerance in a Sentence
a tolerance for other lifestyles
The plants have a high tolerance for heat.
Some patients gradually develop a tolerance for the drug and need to be given a larger dose.
Some patients develop greater tolerance for the drug's effects.
Recent Examples on the Web
The film is about love and, perhaps paradoxically, tolerance.
—
Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2025
Frost, which can form on clear, calm nights even when air temperatures are in the mid-30s, varies in its impact depending on plant species and their cold tolerance.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
The story of Jehu, Ahab and Jezebel can be also read as demonstrating a lack of tolerance for religious difference since Jezebel was not an Israelite and Ahab allowed the worship non-Israelite deities.
—Jason Derose, NPR, 20 Jan. 2025
Today's engines are designed with much tighter tolerances and use lubricants that flow (in most cases) like water, per Shelton.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tolerance 
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2025
Frost, which can form on clear, calm nights even when air temperatures are in the mid-30s, varies in its impact depending on plant species and their cold tolerance.
—Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
The story of Jehu, Ahab and Jezebel can be also read as demonstrating a lack of tolerance for religious difference since Jezebel was not an Israelite and Ahab allowed the worship non-Israelite deities.
—Jason Derose, NPR, 20 Jan. 2025
Today's engines are designed with much tighter tolerances and use lubricants that flow (in most cases) like water, per Shelton.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for tolerance
Dictionary Entries Near tolerance
Cite this Entry
“Tolerance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tolerance. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tolerance
noun
tol·er·ance
ˈtäl(-ə)-rən(t)s
1
a
: ability to put up with something harmful or unpleasant
b
: the ability to adjust to a food or drug so that its effects are experienced less strongly
2
: sympathy for or acceptance of feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from one's own
Medical Definition
tolerance
noun
tol·er·ance
ˈtäl(-ə)-rən(t)s
1
: the capacity of the body to endure or become less responsive to a substance (as a drug) or a physiological insult especially with repeated use or exposure
developed a tolerance to painkillers
2
: the immunological state marked by unresponsiveness to a specific antigen
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