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 (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; venerate, Venus ) + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

The enormity of Catherine’s cancer diagnosis, and her plea for “time, space and privacy,” have eclipsed the venial sins of Kate-Gate.

From Los Angeles Times

Besides the many venial sins uncovered by the authors, a graver set of dubious practices emerges.

From Washington Post

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

From Washington Post

“People are venial, people want attention, people are angry, people are jealous,” the governor said.

From New York Times

In baseball, bunting to break up a perfect game is a mortal and not a venial sin.

From Washington Post