venial sin


noun Roman Catholic Church.

a transgression against the law of God that does not deprive the soul of divine grace either because it is a minor offense or because it was committed without full understanding of its seriousness or without full consent of the will.
Compare mortal sin.

Origin of venial sin

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

British Dictionary definitions for venial sin

venial sin

noun

Christianity a sin regarded as involving only a partial loss of grace Compare mortal sin