noun
-
the act of forgiving or the state of being forgiven
-
willingness to forgive
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of forgiveness
before 900; Middle English forgifenesse, Old English forgifennys. See forgive, -ness
Explanation
Compassionate feelings for someone that make it easier to forgive that person for some offense can be called forgiveness. Feelings of forgiveness make it easier to feel empathy toward people who have harmed you. If you give someone a break and forgive some misdeed or mistake, you are practicing the act of forgiveness. If your sister borrows your favorite white sweater without asking, it's easy to offer her forgiveness. If your sister borrows your favorite white sweater without asking and spills a glass of chocolate milk on it, forgiveness may be a little harder to grant.
Vocabulary lists containing forgiveness
Ceremony
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Shiloh
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocabulary for April 22–April 28, 2023
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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.
Forgiveness is posthumously granted through cinema, shaving away anything unpleasant that is no longer necessary to dwell on.
From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026
Melvin Benn, managing director at Festival Republic, said: "Forgiveness and giving people a second chance are becoming a lost virtue in this ever-increasing divisive world."
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026
Then, if their graduates go to work for nonprofits, much of their debt can be waived under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026
Forgiveness is a final stumbling block for both women, whose independent streaks flatten out a desire for community when they need it most.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2025
Forgiveness, then, means choosing to bear the full weight all by yourself.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
