ENGLISH
REFERENCE

absolutory

adj.
C2 Proficiency ab·so·lu·to·ry
Definition

adj. describing something that completely frees someone from a duty, a crime, or a punishment. It is often used in legal or religious contexts to talk about forgiveness or release.

adj. serving to absolve or release from a legal, moral, or religious obligation or penalty. Typically used in legal or ecclesiastical contexts to describe a formal act of forgiveness or discharge.


SIMPLE

The judge gave an absolutory sentence to the young offender.

CONTEXTUAL

The priest offered an absolutory prayer to the dying man, providing him with a sense of peace and release from his sins.

COMPLEX

In many jurisdictions, a plea of guilty can lead to an absolutory order that prevents the defendant from being prosecuted for the same offense in the future.

Last updated June 22, 2026