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; see -ate ¹) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

The act of giving or portioning something out is called dispensation. Your teacher will have a hard time with the dispensation of biology textbooks if there aren't enough copies for everyone in the class. The Latin root word of dispensation is dispensare, which means to disburse or administer. Doctors and pharmacists commonly talk about the dispensation of prescription medication. Another meaning of dispensation is an exemption from a rule. Your teacher might give you a dispensation to take the algebra final at a later date if you're sick on the scheduled day, for example.

Example Sentences

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 • Nov. 28, 2025

She also said Gomez was not considering issuing a dispensation for its congregants.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2025

San Bernardino Roman Catholic Bishop Alberto Rojas issued a dispensation Tuesday evening, offering members of his diocese’s roughly one million parishioners in danger of being deported the option to stay home Sundays.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 14, 2025

In 1933, Jewish lawyers were banned from appearing in German courts, but Frankel had served in World War I, and as a consequence of doing that, had a dispensation from the ban.

From Slate • May 27, 2025

“Then we will be fine, ma cherie. The director has already filed a dispensation to keep me out of the reserves. I’m not going anywhere.”

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Related Words

• exemption
• immunity
• reprieve