noun

indulgence

ihn-DUHL-juhns

noun

The act of allowing oneself or someone else a pleasure, often more than is wise.

"A weekly indulgence in dessert won't ruin your diet."

A tolerant or lenient attitude toward someone's wishes or faults.

"She thanked the audience for their indulgence during the technical delay."

In the Catholic Church, a formal reduction of the punishment due for sins, granted after confession.

"The medieval sale of indulgences was a major cause of the Reformation."

How to Use Indulgence

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLetting yourself (or someone else) enjoy something freely, or being lenient about a fault.

Common pairings

a rare indulgence ask for your indulgence sell indulgences

indulgenced past tense, indulgences plural, indulgences singular

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A weekly _____ in dessert won't ruin your diet.

From Middle French indulgence, from Latin indulgentia.

hence fence Pence whence thence Spence absence science silence defence essence Terence