/ ˈpɑːdn; NAmE ˈpɑːrdn/ exclamation , noun , verb
■ exclamation
1.
(also ˌpardon ˈme especially in NAmE ) used to ask sb to repeat sth because you did not hear it or did not understand it :
'You're very quiet today.' 'Pardon?' 'I said you're very quiet today.'
2.
(also ˌpardon ˈme ) used by some people to say 'sorry' when they have accidentally made a rude noise, or said or done sth wrong
■ noun
1.
(also BrE , law ˌfree ˈpardon ) [ C ] an official decision not to punish sb for a crime, or to say that sb is not guilty of a crime :
to ask / grant / receive a pardon
a royal / presidential pardon
2.
[ U ] ( formal ) pardon (for sth) the action of forgiving sb for sth :
He asked her pardon for having deceived her.
SYN forgiveness
•
IDIOMS
see beg
■ verb (not usually used in the progressive tenses)
1.
[ vn ] to officially allow sb who has been found guilty of a crime to leave prison and/or avoid punishment :
She was pardoned after serving ten years of a life sentence.
2.
pardon sb (for sth / for doing sth) to forgive sb for sth they have said or done (used in many expressions when you want to be polite)
SYN excuse :
[ vn ]
Pardon my ignorance, but what is a 'duplex'?
The place was, if you'll pardon the expression , a dump.
( BrE )
You could be pardoned for thinking (= it is easy to understand why people think) that education is not the government's priority.
Pardon me for interrupting you.
[ vn -ing ]
Pardon my asking, but is that your husband?
[also vnn ]
•
IDIOMS
- pardon me
—see also I beg your pardon
- pardon me for doing sth
—more at French noun
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French pardun (noun), pardoner (verb), from medieval Latin perdonare concede, remit, from per- completely + donare give.