Standard Lemma guide

venial

adj · 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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  • /ˈviːni.əl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Able to be forgiven; worthy of forgiveness.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pardonable, excusable, forgivable

Antonyms: unvenial, unforgivable

2

adj

Meaning 2

Able to be forgiven; worthy of forgiveness.

Worthy of forgiveness because trifling (trivial).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: especially, often

Examples

  • His venial youthful indiscretions.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pardonable, excusable, forgivable

Antonyms: unvenial, unforgivable

3

adj

Meaning 3

Not causing spiritual death.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: lifestyle, religion

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: mortal

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

easily excused or forgiven

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a venial error

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: excusable, forgivable

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

warranting only temporal punishment

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • venial sin

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: minor

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Old French venial, borrowed from Late Latin veniālem (“pardonable”), from Latin venia (“forgiveness”).

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: ներելի (nereli) — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Bulgarian: простим (prostim) — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • French: véniel — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Georgian: საპატიებელი (saṗaṭiebeli) — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Georgian: შესაწყნარებელი (šesac̣q̇narebeli) — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Georgian: მისატევებელი (misaṭevebeli) — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • German: lässlich — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • German: läßlich — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Hungarian: bocsánatos — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Icelandic: fyrirgefanlegur — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Icelandic: afsakanlegur — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Italian: veniale — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Manx: so-phardooney — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Polish: wybaczalny — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Polish: przebaczalny — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Polish: lekki — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Portuguese: perdoável — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Portuguese: venial — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Spanish: venial — pardonable; able to be forgiven
  • Bulgarian: дребен (dreben) — excusable; trifling
  • Hungarian: megbocsátható — excusable; trifling
  • Hungarian: elnézhető — excusable; trifling
  • Polish: wybaczalny — excusable; trifling
  • Polish: przebaczalny — excusable; trifling
  • Portuguese: perdoável — excusable; trifling
  • Portuguese: venial — excusable; trifling
  • Spanish: venial — excusable; trifling
  • French: véniel — not causing spiritual death