lenient
adj.not as strict as expected. You use this to describe a person in power, like a teacher or judge, who chooses not to punish someone severely.
adj.inclined to be merciful or indulgent; not strict in the application of discipline or punishment.
“The teacher was lenient and gave him another chance.”
“The judge was surprisingly lenient with the first-time offender, sentencing him to community service instead of jail time.”
“While the school handbook mandates suspension for such an infraction, the principal decided to be lenient due to the student's previously spotless disciplinary record and genuine remorse.”
Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be', 'become', or 'seem'.
From Middle French lénient, from Latin lēniēns, present participle of lēnīre (“to soften, soothe”), from lēnis (“soft”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.