dispensation

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noun dis·pen·sa·tion \ ˌdis-pən-ˈsā-shən , -ˌpen- \

Definition of dispensation

1 a :a general state or ordering of things; specifically :a system of revealed (see ¹reveal 1) commands and promises regulating human affairs

a privilege maintained under the new dispensation

b :a particular arrangement or provision especially of providence or nature

involving special dispensation by the Church

2 a :an exemption from a law or from an impediment, vow, or oath

may be granted a dispensation from the rule

b :a formal authorization

requested a dispensation to form another lodge

3 a :the act of dispensing

the dispensation of medication

b :something dispensed or distributed

… one of the most remarkable cultural dispensations in the country's history, the paperback book.
—T. E. Cooney

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dispensational

play \-shnəl, -shə-nᵊl\ adjective

See dispensation defined for English-language learners

See dispensation defined for kids

Examples of dispensation in a Sentence

The priest asked for dispensation from his vows.
The state gave the town a special dispensation, allowing it to ignore the law in this case.

Recent Examples of dispensation from the Web

That book, about how France and Britain endeavored to impose a new political dispensation on the Middle East in the aftermath of World War I, was published in 1989, to near universal commendation.

— roger kimball, WSJ, "The Great War’s Great Historian Appreciated the Good Life," 16 June 2017
Her school has offered Alves and her family food, clothing, travel expenses and dispensation from her other exams.

— amanda erickson, Washington Post, "This girl watched her London apartment burn, then took her chemistry exam," 16 June 2017
The team gets a special NCAA dispensation to schedule an extra game due to the lengthy travel for road games.

— iliana limón romero, OrlandoSentinel.com, "College football rankings: Hawaii Rainbow Warriors," 21 May 2017
The European Broadcasting Union, which oversees the contest, gave him special dispensation and his sister stood in for him during the first week of run-throughs.

— william lee adams, Billboard, "Portugal's Salvador Sobral Quietly Wins Eurovision Song Contest," 14 May 2017
These wineries are afforded special dispensation to sell their wines directly to the public from their wineries and also to sell wholesale to restaurants or liquor stores, up to 75,000 gallons of wine per year.

— jess fleming, Twin Cities, "Two Minnesota wineries sue to use more out-of-state grapes in farm wines," 29 Mar. 2017
Trump himself walked back a campaign promise to promote American steelmakers, granting the owners of the Keystone Pipeline a special dispensation to ignore an executive order to that effect.

— tina nguyen, The Hive, "The 5 Worst Trump Hypocrisies of the Week," 3 Mar. 2017
There’s also a special loan for physicians that gives dispensation for student loans.

— jeff lazerson, Orange County Register, "Creative mortgages make comeback for credit-challenged borrowers," 17 Feb. 2017
New Zealand officials suggest Thiel must have received a special dispensation of sorts.

— maya kosoff, The Hive, "Why Does Peter Thiel Have New Zealand Citizenship?," 25 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dispensation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.