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

The show pursues this dream to the point of absurdity, holding out hope for Serena’s absolution long past the point when a reasonable observer would have abandoned it. —Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2025

Mercy asks for allowance, where forgiveness demands absolution. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 21 May 2025

Dolly de Leon's performance in Triangle of Sadness is groundbreaking — here's why De Leon stars in Nine Perfect Strangers season 2 as Agnes, an ex-nun seeking absolution. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 21 May 2025

To depict him as a victim of manipulation grants him an unearned absolution. —Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 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