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
Barbara L. Michaels2
a
: an indulgent act
b
: an extension of time for payment or performance granted as a favor
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 luxury travelers, vacation has quietly (and steadily) become less about indulgence and more about repair.
—Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
But, coming at the end of an album that’s otherwise governed by an egalitarian teamwork-makes-the-dream-work ethos, the moment feels a bit like letting the boss take the last-call karaoke number as the office holiday party winds down—an indulgence well earned.
—Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 18 June 2026
Fire up the grill, toast the buns and lean into indulgence with meaty beef patties layered beneath smoky bacon, oozing cheese and sweet onions softened to a slippery tangle.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
In the era of intensive parenting, garden moms tend to classify cannabis use less as an indulgence and more as an opportunity for self-care.
—Sarah Levy, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for indulgence
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Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
But, coming at the end of an album that’s otherwise governed by an egalitarian teamwork-makes-the-dream-work ethos, the moment feels a bit like letting the boss take the last-call karaoke number as the office holiday party winds down—an indulgence well earned.
—Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 18 June 2026
Fire up the grill, toast the buns and lean into indulgence with meaty beef patties layered beneath smoky bacon, oozing cheese and sweet onions softened to a slippery tangle.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 18 June 2026
In the era of intensive parenting, garden moms tend to classify cannabis use less as an indulgence and more as an opportunity for self-care.
—Sarah Levy, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for indulgence
Cite this Entry
“Indulgence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indulgence. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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