Venal means open to bribery or corrupt — a venal official. Venial means minor and easily forgiven — a venial fault. They differ by one letter and are close to opposites in severity: one is a serious accusation, the other an excuse.
The core difference
Corruption and forgivability, one letter apart.
- venal — corrupt, bribable: venal politicians.
- venial — minor, forgivable: a venial offence.
The theological origin
Venial comes from Catholic theology, where a venial sin is a lesser one, as against a mortal sin. That is where its sense of forgivability comes from, and the pairing with mortal is worth knowing because it fixes the severity.
The roots
Venal is from Latin venum, sale — something available for purchase, hence a person who can be bought. Venial is from venia, forgiveness. Different roots that landed a letter apart.
Frequently asked questions
Which one means corrupt?
Venal — from the Latin for sale, meaning someone who can be bought.
What is a venial sin?
A lesser sin in Catholic theology, as opposed to a mortal one — which is where the sense of forgivability comes from.
How do I remember the difference?
Venal is about being for sale; venial is about being forgiven. Different Latin roots that happen to look alike.