indulgence

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. something that you allow yourself to have as a special treat.

n. a specific thing that is enjoyed as a luxury or a special treat, rather than a necessity.

“Dark chocolate is my one small indulgence when I am on a diet.”

“While the family lived modestly, their one major indulgence was an extensive collection of rare first-edition novels.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal

n. the quality of being patient and kind to someone, even if they are being difficult.

n. the quality of being tolerant or lenient toward the actions or opinions of others.

“The speaker asked for the audience's indulgence while he fixed his microphone.”

“The professor showed great indulgence toward the students' late submissions, recognizing the extraordinary circumstances of the semester.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Religion Technical · Formal

n. in the Catholic Church, a way to reduce the punishment for sins.

n. a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.

“In the Middle Ages, people sometimes paid the church for an indulgence.”

“The sale of indulgences was one of the primary grievances cited by Martin Luther in his challenge to the authority of the Church.”