indulgence

noun

in·​dul·​gence in-ˈdəl-jən(t)s 

1

a

: the act of indulging in something

especially : self-indulgence

b

: something indulged in

… walk off gastronomic indulgences.

—Barbara 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)

Synonyms of indulgence

• kindness
• privilege
• service
• grace
• courtesy
• mercy
• blessing
• benevolence

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 extra indulgence, our Cheesy Potato Soup with Bacon is topped with crispy bacon, scallions, and extra shredded yellow Cheddar cheese for the ultimate comfort food experience. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026

Luxury SUVs Korean automaker Hyundai clearly took notes when studying SUVs in the luxury space -- its large Palisade SUV ($39,435) resembles a Range Rover, comes built with nearly every indulgence and still somehow costs a fraction of the price. —Morgan Korn, ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026

The ultra-luxury suites in the latter are its crown jewels, designed to deliver the ultimate indulgence in space, amenities, and 24/7 personalized attention. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026

Lightly grilled little gem lettuce, layered with smoke, crunch and just enough indulgence. —C.w. Cameron, AJC.com, 21 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing indulgence

• plenary indulgence
• self-indulgence

Rhymes for indulgence

• overindulgence

Kids Definition

indulgence

noun

in·​dul·​gence in-ˈdəl-jən(t)s 

1

: the act of indulging : the state of being indulgent

2

: an indulgent act

3

: something indulged in