adjective

pardonable

PARD-nuh-bul/ˈpɑːrdnəbl/

Able to be forgiven or excused.

The small spill is pardonable, and the woman smiles as the waiter cleans it.

A young waiter has made a small, harmless spill beside an older woman's cup.

Etymology

parLatinthoroughly

+donLatingive as a gift

+ableOld Frenchcapable of being

The underlying idea of giving wholeheartedly became forgiving or remitting an offense. The ending makes pardonable describe a fault that can receive such forgiveness or excuse.

In context

LEMAN PRODUCTIONS ARCHIVE16:20

Thirstdale felt a pardonable [music] pride in the thought that she owed her excellence to his training.

Edith Wharton - “A Lady Doesn’t Write” - A BBC2 ‘Bookmark’ Documentary narrated by Ian Holm

More examples

A little nervousness is pardonable on your first day.
He takes pardonable pride in his daughter's success.
An occasional delay is pardonable, but constant lateness is not.

Forms

pardonable

pardon verb — To forgive someone for an offense.

Similar words

forgivable: A close equivalent, more common in everyday speech.
excusable: Emphasizes circumstances that justify overlooking a fault or mistake.