venial
UK: ˈviːnɪəl | US: ˈviːniəl
adj. (of a fault or offense) slight and pardonable; not seriously wrong.
venial = ven<forgive> + ial<adjective suffix>
- ven (from Latin venia, meaning "forgiveness" or "pardon")
- ial (adjective-forming suffix, indicating "relating to" or "characterized by")
Etymology Origin:
Derived from Latin venialis ("pardonable"), rooted in venia ("forgiveness"). The term originally described sins or faults deemed minor in theological contexts (e.g., "venial sins" in Christianity, contrasted with "mortal sins"). Over time, it broadened to secular use, retaining its core idea of excusability. The morpheme ven reflects the concept of leniency, while -ial standardizes it as an adjective.
Forgetting a friend’s birthday is a venial mistake, easily forgiven.
The judge dismissed the venial offense with a warning.
In Catholicism, venial sins do not sever one’s relationship with God.
His tardiness was venial compared to his colleague’s deliberate sabotage.
The teacher overlooked the student’s venial errors in the essay.