# forgiveness

/fɝˈɡɪvnəs/ (US) · /fəɡˈɪvnəs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/forgiveness
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the act of pardoning

noun · CEFR B2

the act of deciding not to be angry with someone anymore for something they did wrong.

For teachers: the intentional process of letting go of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you.

- She asked for his forgiveness after she realized how much her words had hurt him.
- The victim's family eventually granted the defendant forgiveness, a gesture that profoundly moved everyone present in the courtroom.

Usage: Usually uncountable; often used with the verbs 'ask for', 'seek', or 'grant'.

### 2. willingness to forgive

noun · CEFR B2

the quality of being a person who is ready and willing to forgive others.

For teachers: the disposition or character trait of being ready to pardon others' transgressions.

- His heart was full of forgiveness, so he never stayed angry for long.
- The spiritual leader emphasized that true forgiveness requires a strength of character that many find difficult to cultivate.

Usage: Functions as an abstract uncountable noun.

## Examples

- She asked for his forgiveness after the argument.
- True forgiveness often takes time and effort, especially when the person who hurt you does not apologize.
- The policy of national reconciliation was built on the principle of collective forgiveness, aiming to heal the deep social divisions left by decades of civil conflict.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.