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Glite Dictionary
zero tolerance

zero tolerance

53 4.3
A policy that makes people follow rules with no exceptions, even for small mistakes
  • noun
  • /ˈziːroʊ ˈtɒlərəns/
  • Formal
translation icon : tolerancia cero
  • Because we have a zero tolerance policy on violence at this school.
  • a zero-tolerance policy
  • adopt a zero-tolerance policy
  • a zero-tolerance approach

Examples

  • Current military policy toward drug and alcohol abuse is one of zero tolerance.

    Academic text (1992)

  • That is why I welcome the board's review of our new zero-tolerance policy on controlled substances.

    High School (2010)

  • We have a no fighting policy at this school, zero tolerance.

    The Son of Bigfoot (2017)

  • I think it's pretty clear by now there will be a zero tolerance for breaking the rules.

    The Experiment (2010)

  • As accommodating as this school may be, we have a zero tolerance policy for violence.

    Door in the Woods (2019)

  • I know you're new to all this, but we have a zero tolerance policy at this school.

    The Great Gilly Hopkins (2015)

  • Discussion: Organizations must adopt zero-tolerance policies for professional verbal abuse.

    Academic text (2003)

  • Establishing reasonable standards of behavior begins by developing, communicating, and enforcing zero-tolerance policies.

    Academic text (2000)

  • Arguably, the major common factor is the policy of zero tolerance for child misbehavior (Boccanfuso & Kuhfeld, 2011).

    Academic text (2013)

  • Our school has a strict zero tolerance policy for cheating on exams.

Synonyms

zero-tolerance policy
vszero tolerance
  • Formal
16 4.9

A strict rule that gives the same punishment for every bad act with no exceptions

focuses on strict enforcement without requiring a single fixed punishment
iron fist approach
vszero tolerance
7.0

A very strict way of managing people and enforcing rules

is strict about rules but centers on no exceptions rather than severity

Antonyms

leniency
26 4.6

Not being strict when judging or punishing someone

How Strict

zero tolerance
  • Formal
53 4.3
strict rule
14 3.4
leniency
26 4.6

Surface Forms

zero tolerance singular
zero tolerances plural

Morphology

zero + tolerance

The meaning is directly compositional: 'zero' = none and 'tolerance' = willingness to accept, so together they denote having no allowance for certain behavior (i.e. strict enforcement with no exceptions). This construction is cross-linguistically common (e.g. Spanish 'tolerancia cero', French 'tolérance zéro'), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the intended policy meaning.

Etymology

Zero tolerance comes from the image of a measuring line set at zero, where nothing is allowed to pass that line. So a zero tolerance policy means rules are kept very strict and officials make 'no exceptions'.