dispensation

[ dis-puhn-sey-shuhn, -pen- ]

noun

1. an act or instance of dispensing; distribution.

   Synonyms: bestowal, dissemination, dispersion

2. something that is distributed or given out.
3. a certain order, system, or arrangement; administration or management.
4. Theology.
   1. the divine ordering of the affairs of the world.
   2. an appointment, arrangement, or favor, as by God.
   3. a divinely appointed order or age:

      the old Mosaic, or Jewish, dispensation; the new gospel, or Christian, dispensation.

5. a dispensing with, doing away with, or doing without something.
6. Roman Catholic Church.
   1. a relaxation of law in a particular case granted by a competent superior or the superior's delegate in laws that the superior has the power to make and enforce:

      a dispensation regarding the Lenten fast.

   2. an official document authorizing such a relaxation of law.

dispensation

/ ˌdɪspɛnˈseɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of distributing or dispensing
2. something distributed or dispensed
3. a system or plan of administering or dispensing
4. RC Church
   1. permission to dispense with an obligation of church law
   2. the document authorizing such permission
5. any exemption from a rule or obligation
6. Christianity
   1. the ordering of life and events by God
   2. a divine decree affecting an individual or group
   3. a religious system or code of prescriptions for life and conduct regarded as of divine origin

Derived Forms

• ˌdispenˈsational, adjective

Other Words From

• dispen·sation·al adjective
• dis·pen·sa·to·ri·ly [dih-, spen, -s, uh, -tawr-, uh, -lee, -tohr-], adverb
• nondis·pen·sation noun
• nondis·pen·sation·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dispensation¹

1325–75; Middle English dispensacioun < Medieval Latin dispēnsātiōn- (stem of dispēnsātiō ) a pardon, relaxation, Late Latin: order, system, divine grace, Latin: distribution, equivalent to dispēnsāt ( us ) (past participle of dispēnsāre to dispense; -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

He's been running a shadow government, with GOP officials rushing to get his permission before they take any action and everyone clamoring for his dispensation in their campaigns.

From Salon

“William Smith’s passion for his curriculum and for the success of those he taught in classrooms, at matric camps and on TV benefited millions of young South Africans even before our transition to democracy and the dawn of a new dispensation of equal education,” he said.

From BBC

The budget announcements clearly indicate a shift in priorities for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s new dispensation, with ramped up allocations for rural development, skilling, jobs and agriculture.

From BBC

“Because it's an election, there's hope, which did not exist under the previous dispensation.”

From BBC

“But somehow when it’s a plant, it’s a different story. I see my job as sort of giving people special dispensation to believe that they don’t have to have it forever.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• exemption
• immunity
• reprieve