die Toleranz, -en

Definition & meaning

The word "Toleranz" has three primary meanings depending on the context:

1. Social and Ethical: It refers to the willingness to recognize and respect the beliefs, practices, or characteristics of others, even if they differ from or conflict with one's own. It is the practice of being patient and fair toward those whose opinions or backgrounds are different.
2. Technical and Mathematical: In engineering and manufacturing, it describes the permissible limit or limits of variation in a physical dimension, a measured value, or a physical property of a material or manufactured object. It defines how much a part can deviate from its ideal measurement while still functioning correctly.
3. Medical and Biological: It refers to the ability of an organism to endure or resist the effects of a substance (such as a drug or toxin) or an environmental condition. In immunology, it refers to the state where the immune system does not react against specific substances or tissues.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a feminine noun (die Toleranz). Its plural form is "Toleranzen".

Historically, the term entered the German language in the 16th century. It is derived from the Latin "tolerantia", which means "endurance", "patience", or "fortitude". This in turn comes from the Latin verb "tolerare", meaning "to bear", "to endure", or "to suffer". While it originally referred to the physical act of enduring hardship, its meaning expanded during the Enlightenment to include the intellectual and religious acceptance of others.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms: In a social context, synonyms include Akzeptanz↗, Duldsamkeit↗, Offenheit↗, and Weltoffenheit↗. In technical contexts, synonyms like Spielraum↗ or Abweichung↗ are often used.

Antonyms: The most direct antonym is Intoleranz↗. Other opposites include Unduldsamkeit↗, Engstirnigkeit↗, and Fanatismus↗.