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 That’s not uncommon in biographical stories, especially one that explores a tragic figure from his impressionable youth to the section of life where triumph and disaster present themselves, to the restlessness of a demented old age spent in search of both cohesion and absolution. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2024 Penance, not absolution The Verra registry, which has been the focus of scrutiny, on Monday revised its methodology in an attempt to provide better quality control. Evan Bush, NBC News, 29 Nov. 2023 In the end, what Ward, Abbott, and Plaza access is that Danny and the Deep Blue Sea isn’t really a play about violence at all, but about absolution. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2023 Brian asked, looking at his son, hoping for absolution. Eli Saslow Erin Schaff, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2023 Sometimes knowing what’s the right thing to do is impossible, and so is absolution. Heller McAlpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2023 The show is a ruthless evisceration of hollow progressive altruism, of performative compassion exercised to make money or seek absolution for other sins. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Nov. 2023 One delegate told a story of a woman who died by suicide after failing to obtain church absolution for being bisexual. Stefano Pitrelli, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2023 Moral absolution has become an essential component of consumerism in 2023 — touting the green qualities of a product, or the race or gender of the object’s creator, to comfort a shopper. Rachel Tashjian, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2023

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 18 Mar. 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

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