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.
While some presidents have been frugal with their financial forgiveness – George H.W.
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
Bring a little forgiveness to the picture, says Celeste Birkhofer, a clinical psychologist and adjunct clinical faculty member at Stanford Medical School who emphasizes grief counseling.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026
Galliano might be an influential artist, one worthy of critical exploration in an exhibit and perhaps even forgiveness, she wrote, but to celebrate him would cross a line.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
Instead of anger, she’s leaned heavily on her faith to choose forgiveness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026
The social worker would supervise the visit, and tomorrow he would ask Etta’s forgiveness for not seeking permission.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
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.
