forgiving

adjective

for·​giv·​ing fər-ˈgi-viŋ 

fȯr-

1

: willing or able to forgive

2

: allowing room for error or weakness

designed to be a forgiving tennis racquet

forgivingly adverb

forgivingness noun

Examples of forgiving in a Sentence

a person with a forgiving nature

Recent Examples on the Web

When these brands inevitably return waving rainbow flags, that $1.4 trillion market won't be as forgiving. —Gillian Oakenfull, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025

Analysts and shareholders might have been more forgiving with a $2 billion tuck-in than a big headline swing. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 June 2025

If human beings were as forgiving as dogs, this would be a better world. —Dean Koontz, People.com, 20 May 2025

There’s nothing chicer, or more forgiving, than a full monochrome look. —Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for forgiving

• almsgiving
• caregiving
• misgiving
• nonliving
• reliving
• thanksgiving
• giving
• living
• sieving
• unforgiving

Kids Definition

forgiving

adjective

for·​giv·​ing

fər-ˈgiv-iŋ,

fȯr-

1

: showing forgiveness : inclined or ready to forgive

a person with a forgiving nature

2

: allowing for human error or weakness

a tennis racket designed to be forgiving

forgivingly adverb

forgivingness noun