noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈliːni.ən(t)si/
especially:/ˈliːnjən(t)si/in rapid speech
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:L IY1 N Y AH0 N S IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The quality of mercy or forgiveness, especially in the assignment of punishment as in a court case.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The convicted felon asked for leniency, but because the crime was so heinous the judge refused and gave the maximum sentence.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
An act of being lenient.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
lightening a penalty or excusing from a chore by judges or parents or teachers
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: lenience
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: tolerance
Narrower terms: clemency, mercifulness, mercy
4
noun
Meaning 4
a disposition to yield to the wishes of someone
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
too much indulgence spoils a child
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: indulgence, lenience
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: permissiveness, tolerance
Narrower terms: softness
5
noun
Meaning 5
mercifulness as a consequence of being lenient or tolerant
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: lenience, mildness, lenity
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: mercifulness, mercy
History
Etymology
From lenience + -y, from Latin lēn(iō) (“to soften, soothe”), from lēnis (“soft”).
Across languages
Translations
32 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Amharic:
ልልነት
(ləlnät)
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Bulgarian:
снизходителност
(snizhoditelnost)
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Chinese Mandarin:
寬大 /宽大
(kuāndà)
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Chinese Mandarin:
仁慈
(réncí)
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Esperanto:
malsevereco
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Finnish:
lievyys
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
French:
indulgence
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
French:
clémence
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Georgian:
შემწყალებლობა
(šemc̣q̇alebloba)
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
German:
Milde
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
German:
Nachsicht
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Greek:
επιείκεια
(epieíkeia)
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Italian:
clemenza
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Korean:
너그러움
(neogeureoum)
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Latin:
clēmentia
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Polish:
pobłażliwość
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Portuguese:
leniência
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Romanian:
blândețe
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Romanian:
toleranță
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Romanian:
indulgență
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Romanian:
îngăduință
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Russian:
снисходительность
(snisxoditelʹnostʹ)
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Russian:
снисхожде́ние
(snisxoždénije)
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Slovak:
zhovievavosť
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Slovak:
milosrdnosť
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Spanish:
leniencia
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Swedish:
mildhet
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Ukrainian:
побла́жливість
(poblážlyvistʹ)
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Ukrainian:
виба́чливість
(vybáčlyvistʹ)
— quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence, lenity
Chinese Mandarin:
寬容行為 /宽容行为
(kuānróng xíngwéi)
— act of being lenient
