dispensation

American  

[dis-puhn-sey-shuhn, -pen-] / ˌdɪs pənˈseɪ ʃən, -pɛn- /

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.

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dispensation British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• dispensational adjective
• dispensatorily adverb
• nondispensation noun
• nondispensational adjective

Etymology

Origin of dispensation

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

Wednesday were given special dispensation to sign Liam Cooper and Nathan Redmond as free agents last month to bolster their numbers.

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2025

Indeed, it is not a novel at all, and it has been categorized as such only because of a curious dispensation afforded to the French to affix that label to any book they want.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025

Gomez’s announcement of the assistance program comes after Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino issued a dispensation allowing parishioners fearful of deportations to stay home rather than attend Mass.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2025

In 1933, Jewish lawyers were banned from appearing in German courts, but Frankel had served in World War I, and as a consequence of doing that, had a dispensation from the ban.

From Slate • May 27, 2025

By the looks of it, this dispensation had been in effect for some time.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Related Words

• exemption
• immunity
• reprieve