dispensation

American  

[dis-puhn-sey-shuhn, -pen-] / ˌdɪs pənˈseɪ ʃən, -pɛn- /

noun

1. an act or instance of dispensing; distribution.

   Synonyms:

   bestowal, dissemination, dispersion

2. something that is distributed or given out.

3. a certain order, system, or arrangement; administration or management.

4. Theology.

   1. the divine ordering of the affairs of the world.

   2. an appointment, arrangement, or favor, as by God.

   3. a divinely appointed order or age.

      the old Mosaic, or Jewish, dispensation; the new gospel, or Christian, dispensation.

5. a dispensing with, doing away with, or doing without something.

6. Roman Catholic Church.

   1. a relaxation of law in a particular case granted by a competent superior or the superior's delegate in laws that the superior has the power to make and enforce.

      a dispensation regarding the Lenten fast.

   2. an official document authorizing such a relaxation of law.

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dispensation British  

/ ˌdɪspɛnˈseɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of distributing or dispensing

2. something distributed or dispensed

3. a system or plan of administering or dispensing

4. RC Church

   1. permission to dispense with an obligation of church law

   2. the document authorizing such permission

5. any exemption from a rule or obligation

6. Christianity

   1. the ordering of life and events by God

   2. a divine decree affecting an individual or group

   3. a religious system or code of prescriptions for life and conduct regarded as of divine origin

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Other Word Forms

• dispensational adjective
• dispensatorily adverb
• nondispensation noun
• nondispensational adjective

Etymology

Origin of dispensation

1325–75; Middle English dispensacioun < Medieval Latin dispēnsātiōn- (stem of dispēnsātiō ) a pardon, relaxation, Late Latin: order, system, divine grace, Latin: distribution, equivalent to dispēnsāt ( us ) (past participle of dispēnsāre to dispense; -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The point of the order is to eliminate government dispensations that let the firms boss around companies.

From The Wall Street Journal

Indeed, it is not a novel at all, and it has been categorized as such only because of a curious dispensation afforded to the French to affix that label to any book they want.

From The Wall Street Journal

To actually get a new organ, patients like Newman are functionally required to secure a special dispensation from the state, which must be renewed every year.

From Los Angeles Times

So if Putin does fly to Budapest he would need special dispensation if he decided to fly over an EU member state.

From BBC

Gomez’s announcement of the assistance program comes after Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino issued a dispensation allowing parishioners fearful of deportations to stay home rather than attend Mass.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• exemption
• immunity
• reprieve