indulgence

noun

in·​dul·​gence in-ˈdəl-jən(t)s How to pronounce indulgence (audio)
1
a
: the act of indulging in something
especially : self-indulgence
b
: something indulged in
walk off gastronomic indulgencesBarbara L. Michaels
2
a
: an indulgent act
b
: an extension of time for payment or performance granted as a favor
3
: the act of indulging : the state of being indulgent
4
: remission of part or all of the temporal and especially purgatorial punishment that according to Roman Catholicism is due for sins whose eternal punishment has been remitted and whose guilt has been pardoned (as through the sacrament of reconciliation)

Examples of indulgence in a Sentence

She lived a life of selfish indulgence. his indulgence in forbidden pleasures She found that she couldn't afford the indulgences she had once enjoyed. For our anniversary we allowed ourselves the indulgence of an elegant dinner at our favorite restaurant. Good food is my only indulgence.
Recent Examples on the Web For those grinding through 15-hour work days and the inevitable late dinners that come with a side of indulgence, these industry breakthroughs could also benefit your personal health and sustainability, which directly enhances your sweat equity. Anna C Mallon, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Franchisees Monika and Aaron Leach are operating the second location in North Carolina of the brand known for indulgences that pile toppings high on Mason jars stuffed with ice cream. Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 20 Feb. 2024 Friendship goes a long way toward exonerating the production of its shameless indulgences. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024 Shrove Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras, marks not only the last day of Carnival but also the last day observants can eat meat and enjoy other indulgences before Lent. Elizabeth Djinis, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024 After that indulgence, guests fly to India and prepare to board The Maharajas’ Express from Delhi to Mumbai for a seven-day trip with visits to the Taj Mahal and Jaipur. Everett Potter, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 For just about the cost of one's weekly coffee indulgence, singers can easily invest in their vocal journey and obtain invaluable benefits and opportunities that may have once seemed out of reach. Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024 Along the way, guests will enjoy the indulgences of the nine-deck luxury vessel with 94 rooms and suites, each with ocean views and most of them with their own balconies. Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 17 Jan. 2024 The resetting of the story in a contemporary context could as easily be seen as an obscene indulgence of American violence or an equally obscene reflection of an ongoing (and largely unseen) crisis of abusive conditions for migrant laborers. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 1 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'indulgence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of indulgence was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near indulgence

Cite this Entry

“Indulgence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indulgence. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

indulgence

noun
in·​dul·​gence in-ˈdəl-jən(t)s How to pronounce indulgence (audio)
1
: the act of indulging : the state of being indulgent
2
: an indulgent act
3
: something indulged in

More from Merriam-Webster on indulgence

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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