absolution

noun

ab·​so·​lu·​tion ˌab-sə-ˈlü-shən How to pronounce absolution (audio)
: the act of forgiving someone for having done something wrong or sinful : the act of absolving someone or the state of being absolved
specifically : a remission of sins pronounced by a priest (as in the sacrament of reconciliation)
The rite of confessing one's sins to a priest and receiving absolution … is also recognized as a sacrament in the Anglican and Orthodox Christian traditions. Peter Steinfels

Did you know?

Since the Latin absolutus meant "set free", it's easy to see how absolution came to mean "set free from sin". (And also easy to see why absolute means basically "pure"—that is, originally, "free of sin".) The verb for absolution is absolve. Just as a priest absolves believers of their sins, you may absolve your brother of blame for a household disaster, or you yourself may in time be absolved for that scrape on the car backing out of a parking space.

Examples of absolution in a Sentence

He asked the priest to give him absolution for his sins. the jury's verdict of “not guilty” was absolution in the eyes of the law, but the verdict would always be “guilty” in the court of public opinion
Recent Examples on the Web The soldier’s remorse is insufficient for absolution, but Folman could never hope to salvage any shred of his own humanity without acknowledging that of the innocent dead. Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2024 Her command pays off in the novel’s latter pages, when the narrator’s pursuit of cleansing, or absolution, leads her to take a path that’s troubling but beautifully off-kilter. Mark Athitakis, Washington Post, 5 July 2024 Hood gave Hosier absolution for his sins and did not confess to the crime in his final moments. Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY, 16 June 2024 The large-scale absolution comes a year after Maryland legalized recreational marijuana use. Bill Chappell, NPR, 17 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for absolution 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'absolution.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English absoluciun, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin absolūtiōn-, absolūtiō "completion, acquittal, release," from absolū- (stem, before consonants, of absolvere "to set free, acquit, finish") + -tiōn-, -tiō suffix of action nouns — more at absolve

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of absolution was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near absolution

Cite this Entry

“Absolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/absolution. Accessed 7 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

absolution

noun
ab·​so·​lu·​tion ˌab-sə-ˈlü-shən How to pronounce absolution (audio)
: the act of absolving
especially : a forgiving of sins

More from Merriam-Webster on absolution

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!