venial sin

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.

venial sin

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of venial sin¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

The SEC charging Goldman with securities fraud is like the Vatican charging a priest with venial sin.

From The Daily Beast

That is true, the Church teaches, even of unrepented156 venial sin with its debt of temporal punishment.

From Project Gutenberg

The first is a venial sin, and easily forgiven—the second nearly unpardonable.

From Project Gutenberg

What is a venial sin against nature, what a mortal sin against nature?

From Project Gutenberg

It is at most an evil thought, a venial sin, which does not endanger the loss of body or of soul.

From Project Gutenberg

O quiet paths of algebra, you are my excuse for this venial sin!

From Project Gutenberg