noun
intolerance
ihn-TOL-uh-ruhns
noun
1
Unwillingness to accept beliefs, behaviour, or people that differ from one's own.
"The novel is a powerful attack on religious intolerance."
2
Medicine: an inability to properly digest or process a particular food or substance.
"He was diagnosed with lactose intolerance as a child."
How to Use Intolerance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRefusing to accept differing views or people, or, medically, an inability to handle a certain food.
Common mistake
A food intolerance (digestive discomfort) is not the same as a food allergy (an immune reaction that can be life-threatening).
Easily confused with
Common pairings
religious intolerance
lactose intolerance
zero intolerance
Word Forms
intolerances plural
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The novel is a powerful attack on religious _____.
Etymology
From French intolerance, or directly from Latin intolerantia, from in- ("not") plus tolerantia ("tolerance").