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
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.
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 ● Mar. 24, 2024
These justifications are no longer the typical, venial deceptions required by party loyalty.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 22, 2019
That’s an awfully venial sin, and I think you’ll have to deal with your outsize feelings of grief on your own.
From Slate ● Jul. 12, 2016
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
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
