venial Hear it!

venial Definition

ve·nial (vēn′yəl, vē′nē əl)

adjective

  1. that may be forgiven; pardonable
  2. that may be excused or overlooked; excusable: said as of an error or fault
  3. Theol. not causing spiritual death: said of sin either not serious in itself or, if serious, not adequately recognized as such or not committed with full consent of one's will

Etymology: OFr < LL(Ec) venialis, pardonable, orig., gracious < L venia, a grace, favor, akin to venus, love: see Venus

venial Related Forms
ve′·ni·al′·ity (vē′nē al′ə tē) noun ve′·ni·ally adverb
venial Synonyms

venial

modif.

excusable, pardonable, justifiable, allowable, trivial, exculpable, defensible, slight, vindicatory, warrantable, extenuatory, mild; see also unimportant.

Antonyms deadly*, mortal*, serious*.

venial Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • sin: Are they committing a mortal or a venial sin?
  • error: I did not think you would call these venial errors!

Modifying Another Word

  • very: Aristocracy is not an institution: aristocracy is a sin; generally a very venial one.

Browse dictionary entries near venial

  1. ‹ veni, vidi, vici
  2. ‹ vengeful
  3. ‹ vengeance
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  5. ‹ Venezia
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  7. ‹ Veneto
  8. ‹ Venetic
  9. ‹ Venetian red
  10. ‹ Venetian glass
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