dispensation

[ dis-puhn-sey-shuhn, -pen- ]

/ ˌdɪs pənˈseɪ ʃən, -pɛn- /

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noun

an act or instance of dispensing; distribution.

something that is distributed or given out.

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

Theology.

the divine ordering of the affairs of the world.
an appointment, arrangement, or favor, as by God.
a divinely appointed order or age: the old Mosaic, or Jewish, dispensation; the new gospel, or Christian, dispensation.

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

Roman Catholic Church.

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.
an official document authorizing such a relaxation of law.

OTHER WORDS FOR dispensation

1 dispersion, meting out, apportioning, dissemination, bestowal.

See synonyms for dispensation on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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; see -ate¹) + -iōn--ion

OTHER WORDS FROM dispensation

dis·pen·sa·tion·al, adjectivedis·pen·sa·to·ri·ly

[dih-spen-suh-tawr-uh-lee, -tohr-], /dɪˈspɛn səˌtɔr ə li, -ˌtoʊr-/, adverbnon·dis·pen·sa·tion, nounnon·dis·pen·sa·tion·al, adjective

Words nearby dispensation

dispauper, dispel, dispend, dispensable, dispensary, dispensation, dispensationalism, dispensator, dispensatory, dispense, dispenser

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dispensation in a sentence

I must have gone over thousands of appraisals, and I’ve never seen one – except for in cases of litigation or estate dispensation – where they had to go back in time to set the value.
Housing Commission Valued Mission Valley Hotel as if the Pandemic Never Happened|Andrew Keatts|July 8, 2021|Voice of San Diego
The Catholic Church was also deeply threatened by the secular goals of the Popular Front and offered a kind of blanket dispensation for the use of violence in exchange for maintaining their moral monopoly over society.
My Father Fled Fascism in Spain—and Taught Me How Lies Can Destroy a Democracy|Sebastian Junger|May 19, 2021|Time
As in many countries, delivery drivers were considered essential workers and allowed the same dispensation as health workers to move around.
Migrants in Latin America Have Turned to Delivery Gigs During the Pandemic. But Drivers Say They're Facing Hostility and Mistreatment|Ciara Nugent|April 10, 2021|Time
While the new political dispensation allows Nyang and others to poke fun at Gambian leaders, the spread of social media has also opened up space for new voices.
The Latest Hub of Political Humor: Gambia|Charu Kasturi|November 24, 2020|Ozy

He says the state denied his request for special dispensation to bring in workers to help, even as Amazon was allowed to have on-site employees fulfill its own rush of online orders.
Many Companies Won't Survive the Pandemic. Amazon Will Emerge Stronger Than Ever|Alana Semuels|July 28, 2020|Time
Our narrator insists that such a dispensation was never on offer or agreed to in 1982 when the band came together.
Viva Hate: Inside the World of Morrissey|Michael Weiss|December 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
As a freelance writer under the old dispensation, I had qualified as a Sole Proprietor and was able to insure both of us.
Obamacare May Be Dangerous to Your Health|Richard Woodward|November 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A few weeks later, after many appeals, I was given special dispensation to return briefly to my hometown to bury her ashes.
Ma Jian: How I Write|Noah Charney|June 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Does this special dispensation apply to all democratically elected governments?
Christian Zionism's Own Reality Check|Matt Duss|July 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Instead, it needs the special dispensation of a party leader or speaker.
How Obama Can Win|John Avlon|November 5, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Seen thus poverty became rather a blessing than a curse, or at least a dispensation prescribing the proper lot of man.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
As for the ruin of any other party, the idea, by a very happy dispensation, never once occurred to him.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
For these people, under the older dispensation, there was nothing but the poorhouse, the jail or starvation by the roadside.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
And not less, than under a former dispensation, is the exercise represented as an act of obedience in New Testament times.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
It stands enjoined among those precepts that are inculcated for every dispensation.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham

British Dictionary definitions for dispensation

dispensation

/ (ˌdɪspɛnˈseɪʃən) /

noun

the act of distributing or dispensing

something distributed or dispensed

a system or plan of administering or dispensing

mainly RC Church

permission to dispense with an obligation of church law
the document authorizing such permission

any exemption from a rule or obligation

Christianity

the ordering of life and events by God
a divine decree affecting an individual or group
a religious system or code of prescriptions for life and conduct regarded as of divine origin

Derived forms of dispensation

dispensational, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

dispensation

OTHER WORDS FOR dispensation

Origin of dispensation

OTHER WORDS FROM dispensation

Words nearby dispensation

Words related to dispensation

How to use dispensation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dispensation

Derived forms of dispensation