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

• forgiveness
• amnesty
• pardon

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

But while visitors may find plenty of reasons to feel remorse when their Vegas sojourn ends, absolution might be found in the city’s renewable energy boom. —Max Bearak, New York Times, 24 June 2025

Some will take the jury's verdict as absolution for Combs' overarching actions. —Sheldon Pearce, NPR, 3 July 2025

But the path to forgiveness is full of unexpected twists and turns, and true absolution may cost Dream everything. —Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025

Mercy asks for allowance, where forgiveness demands absolution. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 1 July 2025

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

Rhymes for absolution

• allocution
• attribution
• comminution
• constitution
• contribution
• convolution
• destitution
• devolution
• diminution
• dissolution
• distribution
• elocution

Kids Definition

absolution

noun

ab·​so·​lu·​tion ˌab-sə-ˈlü-shən 

: the act of absolving

especially : a forgiving of sins