The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word REMISSION
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
R
E
M
I
S
S
I
O
N
More clues leading to the result REMISSION
- Let up in respect of crusade.
- Negligent one working for reduction of sentence
- Discharge soldier’s duty
- Slackening corps’ objective
- Soldiers calling for forgiveness of sins
- Let-up in respect of assigned task
- On crusade to get pardon
- Concerned with job, one needs a break
- Sentence cut by girl in redirected ‘noire’
- Reduction of religious education by church without resident minister
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "pardon" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case pardon = remission.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does REMISSION mean?
REMISSION noun- A pardon of a sin; the forgiveness of an offence, or relinquishment of a (legal) claim or a debt.
- A lessening of amount due, as in either money or work, or intensity of a thing.
- An act of remitting, returning, or sending back.
- (spectroscopy) Reflection or scattering of light by a material; reemission.