forgiving

adjective

for·​giv·​ing fər-ˈgi-viŋ 

fȯr-

1

: willing or able to forgive

2

: allowing room for error or weakness

designed to be a forgiving tennis racquet

forgivingly adverb

forgivingness noun

Examples of forgiving in a Sentence

a person with a forgiving nature

Recent Examples on the Web

A touch of spandex gives this polyester blend some forgiving stretch, too. —Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Feb. 2025

Customers are also more forgiving of mistakes and more willing to support companies that demonstrate a genuine commitment to making a positive impact on the world. —Vivek Bhaskaran, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025

The final score of Saturday’s home game was painful for even the most loyal and forgiving University of Miami men’s basketball fans to accept: SMU 117, UM 74. —Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 20 Jan. 2025

But in recent years the Academy music branch executive committee, which rules on these issues, has been more forgiving. —Jon Burlingame, Variety, 10 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for forgiving

• almsgiving
• caregiving
• misgiving
• nonliving
• reliving
• thanksgiving
• giving
• living
• sieving
• unforgiving

Kids Definition

forgiving

adjective

for·​giv·​ing

fər-ˈgiv-iŋ,

fȯr-

1

: showing forgiveness : inclined or ready to forgive

a person with a forgiving nature

2

: allowing for human error or weakness

a tennis racket designed to be forgiving

forgivingly adverb

forgivingness noun