condonation Hear it!

condonation Definition

con·do·na·tion (kän′də nā′s̸hən)

noun

the act of condoning, esp. of implying forgiveness by overlooking an offense

Etymology: L condonatio < pp. of condone

condonation Law Definition

n

  1. The forgiveness, purposeful disregard, or tacit approval by a victim of another’s illegal or objectionable act, especially by treating the other person as if nothing happened.
  2. In family law, an act (especially participation in sexual relations) indicating forgiveness by one spouse of the other spouse’s improper conduct (such as adultery) when that wrongful conduct is a potential ground for divorce. In some states, condonation is an affirmative defense in a divorce action if the act asserted as grounds for the divorce is the act that was condoned, the act was not repeated after the condonation, and the spouse who acted wrongfully does not deny conjugal rights to the other spouse. See also connivance.