zero tolerance

[/ˈzɪroʊ ˈtɑːlərəns/]
noun
tolerância zero
1. a strict policy of not accepting or allowing any rule violations, criminal behavior, or undesirable conduct, regardless of circumstances or severity
The school implemented a zero tolerance policy for bullying.
A escola implementou uma política de tolerância zero para bullying.
2. an absolute refusal to accept or endure something
The company has zero tolerance for discrimination in the workplace.
A empresa tem tolerância zero para discriminação no local de trabalho.
3. a law enforcement approach that addresses all violations, no matter how minor, with the same strict punishment
The police department adopted a zero tolerance approach to street crime.
O departamento de polícia adotou uma abordagem de tolerância zero para crimes de rua.
The concept of 'zero tolerance' became particularly prominent in Brazil during the 1990s-2000s in discussions about crime prevention and public safety, influenced by American policing strategies. In educational and corporate contexts, both in Brazil and the USA, it represents a modern shift toward stricter behavioral standards and has become a contested policy approach due to concerns about fairness and disproportionate punishment.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
strict enforcementabsolute intoleranceno exceptions policyrigid policy
Antonyms / Antônimos
leniencypermissivenessflexibilitytolerance

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
tolerância zero
most common translation; widely used in government, education, and corporate contexts
São Paulo
tolerância zero
commonly used in news media and official statements; associated with crime prevention programs
Rio de Janeiro
tolerância zero
frequently used in security and law enforcement discourse
Portugal
tolerância zero
identical to Brazilian usage; common in institutional policies

Related Words

policyenforcementdisciplinecomplianceviolationpunishment

Related Idioms & Phrases

to take a zero tolerance stance
zero tolerance policy
zero tolerance approach
under zero tolerance rules
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