indulgence

American  

[in-duhl-juhns] / ɪnˈdʌl dʒəns /

noun

1. the act or practice of indulging; gratification of desire.

2. the state of being indulgent.

3. indulgent allowance or tolerance.

   Synonyms:

   allowance, forbearance, sufferance

4. a catering to someone's mood or whim; humoring.

   The sick man demanded indulgence as his due.

5. something indulged in.

   Her favorite indulgence was candy.

6. Roman Catholic Church. a partial remission of the temporal punishment, especially purgatorial atonement, that is still due for a sin or sins after absolution.

7. English and Scottish History. (in the reigns of Charles II and James II) a grant by the king to Protestant dissenters and Roman Catholics freeing them from certain penalties imposed, by legislation, because of their religion.

8. Commerce. an extension, through favor, of time for payment or performance.

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verb (used with object)

indulgenced, indulgencing

1. Roman Catholic Church. to provide with an indulgence.

   an indulgenced pilgrimage to Rome.

indulgence British  

/ ɪnˈdʌldʒəns /

noun

1. the act of indulging or state of being indulgent

2. a pleasure, habit, etc, indulged in; extravagance

   fur coats are an indulgence

3. liberal or tolerant treatment

4. something granted as a favour or privilege

5. RC Church a remission of the temporal punishment for sin after its guilt has been forgiven

6. commerce an extension of time granted as a favour for payment of a debt or as fulfilment of some other obligation

7. Also called: Declaration of Indulgence.  a royal grant during the reigns of Charles II and James II of England giving Nonconformists and Roman Catholics a measure of religious freedom

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verb

1. RC Church to designate as providing indulgence

   indulgenced prayers

indulgence Cultural  

1. In the Roman Catholic Church, a declaration by church authorities that those who say certain prayers or do good deeds will have some or all of their punishment in purgatory remitted.

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Discover More

In the Middle Ages, indulgences were frequently sold, and the teaching on indulgences was often distorted. The attack by Martin Luther on the sale of indulgences began the Reformation.

Other Word Forms

• nonindulgence
  noun
• preindulgence
  noun
• reindulgence
  noun
• superindulgence
  noun

Etymology

Origin of indulgence

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English word from Latin word indulgentia. See indulge, -ence

Explanation

An indulgence is doing something that you enjoy even if it has negative consequences. Buying yourself something that you don't need, be it a cookie, video game, or diamond necklace, is an indulgence. If you allow yourself to eat more chocolate cake or watch more TV than is really good for you, those are your little indulgences. If you spend your life savings on a trip to Tahiti, that’s a huge indulgence. If someone says to you, "Grant me this indulgence," prepare for a long-winded story that tries to convince you of something. Long, long ago the Catholic Church sold something called "indulgences": pardons for sins.

Example Sentences

Across the Humber Bridge in Cleethorpes, Jamie Dawson, sales assistant at Sweet Indulgence, says people still like the old traditions, such as visiting sweet shops.

From BBC • Aug. 10, 2025

A year after major controversy and protests over an award for the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the Dodgers are holding their LGBTQ+ Pride Night on Friday.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2024

“The Eureka House of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence unreservedly condemns the behavior alleged in police reports,” the group said in a statement sent to The Daily Wire.

From Washington Times • Sep. 14, 2023

Here are columns by David Brooks on the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Jamelle Bouie on Donald Trump’s management style and Farhad Manjoo on conspiracy theorists.

From New York Times • Jun. 23, 2023

Why naturally this: That such an Indulgence of his Passions, so let loose upon the World, would, at last, reduce him to fly from it!

From A Letter from Mr. Cibber to Mr. Pope by Cibber, Colley

Related Words

• extravagance
• kindness
• leniency
• permissiveness
• privilege