intolerance

Everyday

1. Not being willing to accept people whose ideas, beliefs, habits or ways of life are different from yours. tree →
2. (health) When your body cannot deal well with a certain food or medicine and it makes you feel unwell. tree →
3. Not being able to bear something, such as heat, cold or pain. tree →

In the lessons

In citizenship and religious education it is the opposite of tolerance and respect: lessons explain religious and racial intolerance and why it hurts people. In health and science, food intolerances (lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance) are discussed, and school kitchens check them. Phrases: religious intolerance, lactose intolerance, intolerance of, zero intolerance (wrong; the phrase is «zero tolerance»).

Examples

• Intolerance can lead to bullying and unfairness. tree →
• The school stands against racism and intolerance. tree →
• My brother has lactose intolerance, so he drinks oat milk. tree →
• A food intolerance is not the same as an allergy. tree →
• History shows how religious intolerance drove many families from their homes. tree →
• Grandad has an intolerance to heat and stays inside at midday. tree →
• We learned that kindness is the answer to intolerance. tree →

Note

Uncountable for the attitude; countable for a body's reaction («an intolerance to wheat»). Opposite: tolerance. Trap: a food intolerance usually causes discomfort like tummy ache, while an allergy involves the immune system and can be dangerous; they are different. Adjective: intolerant.