venial
Americanadjective
-
able to be forgiven or pardoned; not seriously wrong, as a sin (opposed to mortal).
-
excusable; trifling; minor.
a venial error; a venial offense.
- Synonyms:
- forgivable, pardonable, slight
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of venial
1250–1300; Middle English < Medieval Latin veniālis, equivalent to Latin veni ( a ) grace, favor, indulgence (akin to venus; see venerate, Venus) + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
Some crimes are unforgivable. Others are venial — venial crimes and sins are excusable. They're not a big deal. In school, there are so many things that are against the rules: talking during class, tossing spitballs, pulling the fire alarm, stealing a basketball, etc. Something venial would be something against the rules but forgivable. For example, if you were late for school because your parents were in the hospital, that lateness is venial. If you burned the gym down, that could never be considered venial. When you see venial, think "forgivable," "excusable," and "no biggie."
Vocabulary lists containing venial
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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.
Gene Weingarten’s entertaining and otherwise accurate list of venial sins in his Nov. 1 Washington Post Magazine column, “Gene engages in venial labor,” reflected an error of canonical proportion.
From Washington Post • Nov. 13, 2020
His self-absorption is at worst a venial sin, and his book's failings should be charged to its editor.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2015
These are some of the book’s more venial sins.
From Slate • Feb. 1, 2013
What we got was akin to looting an ATM: not just amusing, venial sins, but some nearly unforgivable mortal ones.
From Golf Digest • Aug. 3, 2010
Father Byrnes went on to discuss the difference between mortal and venial sins.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
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.
