zero tolerance

American

noun

a policy of very strict, uncompromising enforcement of rules or laws.

zero tolerance British

noun

1. the policy of applying laws or penalties to even minor infringements of a code in order to reinforce its overall importance
2. ( as modifier )
  
  a zero-tolerance policy on drugs

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of zero tolerance

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Export markets demand zero tolerance on pests. Even if inspectors find a single fruit fly, the entire consignment is discarded, leading to huge losses," he says.

From BBC

A spokesperson for Walmart said the company is aware of the complaint and has zero tolerance for counterfeit products.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Durrell trust previously said animal welfare was a top priority, the charity had zero tolerance to bullying and it was time to move forward.

From BBC

“But when you have this zero tolerance, when the quantity of arrests matters far more than the quality of arrests, you eliminate any ability to have that cooperation.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Cambodia applies zero tolerance toward online scams and human trafficking,” he said in a statement.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023