venial

American  

[vee-nee-uhl, veen-yuhl] / ˈvi ni əl, ˈvin yəl /

adjective

1. able to be forgiven or pardoned; not seriously wrong, as a sin (opposed to mortal).

2. excusable; trifling; minor.

   a venial error; a venial offense.

   Synonyms:

   forgivable, pardonable, slight

---

venial British  

/ ˌviːnɪ'ælɪtɪ, ˈviːnɪəl /

adjective

1. easily excused or forgiven

   a venial error

---

Other Word Forms

• unvenial adjective
• unveniality noun
• unvenially adverb
• unvenialness noun
• veniality noun
• venially adverb
• venialness noun

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."

Example Sentences

There are mortal lies and venial lies, cruel lies and merciful lies.

From Washington Post • May 3, 2021

It is the diminishment of a man by a thousand nicks, a soul that rationalizes venial sins for the sake of his only child.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2017

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