ENGLISH
REFERENCE

intolerance

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌɪnˈtɑɫɝəns// UK //ɪntˈɒləɹəns// in·tol·er·ance

n. a condition where your body has trouble digesting a certain food, making you feel sick. It can also mean a refusal to accept people who have different ideas or beliefs than you.

n. an inability to digest a specific substance, typically due to a lack of necessary enzymes; also refers to a lack of acceptance regarding differing opinions or identities.


SIMPLE

His lactose intolerance means he cannot drink milk.

CONTEXTUAL

The patient's digestive issues were eventually traced back to a gluten intolerance that had gone undiagnosed for years.

COMPLEX

While some physical reactions are mild, a severe food intolerance can significantly restrict a person's dietary options and require careful label reading at every meal.

Antonyms
Origin

Borrowed from French intolérance, itself from in- (“not”) + tolérance or borrowed from Latin intolerantia (“insolence, insufferableness; (very rare) intolerance”). By surface analysis, in- + tolerance.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general quality of being intolerant; countable when referring to a specific medical sensitivity.

Pitfall

He has an intolerance against milkHe has an intolerance to milkIn a medical context, the noun typically takes the preposition 'to' rather than 'against'.

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