venial sin

American  

noun

Roman Catholic Church.

1. a transgression against the law of God that does not deprive the soul of divine grace either because it is a minor offense or because it was committed without full understanding of its seriousness or without full consent of the will.

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venial sin British  

noun

1. Christianity a sin regarded as involving only a partial loss of grace Compare mortal sin

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Etymology

Origin of venial sin

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

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

From Washington Post • Nov. 13, 2020

A: I think the snooping for the box after having seen the email is completely understandable, or at the very least a venial sin.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2018

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

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

That Wellgood, or Isobel herself, or anybody else, should harbour that idea did not displease Harry Belfield; not to be able to resist him would be a venial sin, even in Vivien.

From Second String by Hope, Anthony