absolution

noun

ab·​so·​lu·​tion ˌab-sə-ˈlü-shən 

: 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.

Synonyms

• amnesty
• forgiveness
• pardon
• remission
• remittal

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

Time will tell if that is enough to earn absolution from Leeds fans. —Nancy Froston, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024

As both Lawrence and Segel tease, all three characters are steering toward an emotional journey that may or may not end with absolution or reconciliation. —Nick Caruso, TVLine, 16 Oct. 2024

Garner’s version of the character (who has since been played by Elodie Yung on Netflix) isn’t particularly well regarded by fans, but the character’s poor reception plays into her story here as someone searching for absolution and a way to bring her story to fruition. —Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 25 July 2024

But in seeking absolution before death, Protestant suicides-by-proxy were pursuing a Catholic goal. —Katrina Gulliver, JSTOR Daily, 13 Mar. 2023

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

Kids Definition

absolution

noun

ab·​so·​lu·​tion ˌab-sə-ˈlü-shən 

: the act of absolving

especially : a forgiving of sins