Meaning & use
tolerances
Last updated
“tolerances” is a form of “tolerance”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounpluraltechnical
The small amounts by which a measurement or part is allowed to differ from the intended size without causing a problem.
Grammar: Plural for a set of limits: engineers set tolerances; the single sense is a tolerance of two millimeters.
Patterns
- tolerances of something
- within tolerances
The machine cuts parts to tolerances of a hundredth of a millimeter.
If the tolerances are too loose, the pieces will not fit.
The inspector checked that every bolt was within its tolerances.
nounplural
The levels of stress, pain, drugs or difficult conditions that people, plants or materials can endure without harm.
Grammar: Plural when comparing several people or things: individual tolerances differ.
Patterns
- tolerances for something
- tolerances to something
Athletes have different tolerances for heat.
Different crops have very different tolerances to salt.
Alcohol tolerances vary from one person to another.
nounpluralformal
Willingness to accept views or behavior that differ from your own, counted as separate attitudes or levels.
Grammar: Plural is rare and used to compare groups: tolerances of noise differ between neighbors.
Patterns
- tolerances of something
Each generation has its own tolerances of loud music.
The study compared tolerances of risk in several cultures.
Their tolerances of delay were very low.
Word forms
| singular | tolerance |
|---|
Common combinations
- tight tolerances
- Jet engines are built to tight tolerances.
- manufacturing tolerances
- Small manufacturing tolerances can cause fit problems.
- within tolerances
- All the readings stayed within tolerances.
- exceed tolerances
- The vibration exceeded the safe tolerances.
- specify tolerances
- The drawing must specify tolerances for each hole.
Synonyms and how they differ
- margins
- Margins is looser and can mean any spare room for error, while tolerances are exact numeric limits.
- limits
- Limits are the outer boundaries, whereas tolerances describe the allowed amount of variation.
- thresholds
- Thresholds mark the point where something begins to happen, which differs from an allowed range.
- allowances
- Allowances are extra amounts added on purpose, while tolerances are permitted differences.
Opposites
Word family
- tolerance noun
- the ability to accept or endure something
- tolerant adjective
- willing to accept differences
- tolerate verb
- to accept without protest
- intolerance noun
- unwillingness to accept differences
- tolerable adjective
- good enough to bear
Commonly confused: tolerances or toleration?
tolerances vs toleration
Toleration means allowing something to exist, often officially, while tolerances are limits or levels of endurance.
Practice
The parts must be made to very tight ___ so that they fit together exactly.
Choose one answer.
Tolerances are the small allowed differences in size. Toleration and intolerance mean something else, and tolerants is not a noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tolerances”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.