venial

[ vee-nee-uhl, veen-yuhl ]

adjective

1. able to be forgiven or pardoned; not seriously wrong, as a sin ( mortal ).
2. excusable; trifling; minor:

   a venial error; a venial offense.

   Synonyms: forgivable, pardonable, slight

venial

/ ˌviːnɪ'ælɪtɪ; ˈviːnɪəl /

adjective

1. easily excused or forgiven

   a venial error

Derived Forms

• ˈvenially, adverb
• veniality, noun

Other Words From

• veni·ali·ty veni·al·ness noun
• veni·al·ly adverb
• un·veni·al adjective
• un·veni·al·ly adverb
• un·veni·al·ness noun
• unve·ni·ali·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of venial¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Medieval Latin veniālis, equivalent to Latin veni ( a ) grace, favor, indulgence (akin to venus; venerate, Venus ) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of venial¹

C13: via Old French from Late Latin veniālis, from Latin venia forgiveness; related to Latin venus love

Example Sentences

The enormity of Catherine’s cancer diagnosis, and her plea for “time, space and privacy,” have eclipsed the venial sins of Kate-Gate.

From Los Angeles Times

Besides the many venial sins uncovered by the authors, a graver set of dubious practices emerges.

From Washington Post

There are mortal lies and venial lies, cruel lies and merciful lies.

From Washington Post

“People are venial, people want attention, people are angry, people are jealous,” the governor said.

From New York Times

Gene Weingarten’s entertaining and otherwise accurate list of venial sins in his Nov. 1 Washington Post Magazine column, “Gene engages in venial labor,” reflected an error of canonical proportion.

From Washington Post