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
The Fiscal Inversion of Luxury Where most governments slap excise taxes on luxury goods to extract value from indulgence and use ability to pay as a stand-in for progressivity in taxation, Sweden took the exact opposite route.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
Austin's Tarrytown neighborhood has a new spot for frozen indulgence: Zeds, an ice cream shop bringing a taste of New Zealand to 2727 Exposition Blvd #128.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
President Trump has rightly made clear that this era of U.S. indulgence is over.
—Joe Grogan, National Review, 27 June 2025
Designed with a reverence for 1920s-era architect Addison Mizner and completed in 2009, the property blends classic glamour with every modern indulgence.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for indulgence
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Andrew Leahey, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
Austin's Tarrytown neighborhood has a new spot for frozen indulgence: Zeds, an ice cream shop bringing a taste of New Zealand to 2727 Exposition Blvd #128.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
President Trump has rightly made clear that this era of U.S. indulgence is over.
—Joe Grogan, National Review, 27 June 2025
Designed with a reverence for 1920s-era architect Addison Mizner and completed in 2009, the property blends classic glamour with every modern indulgence.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for indulgence
Cite this Entry
“Indulgence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indulgence. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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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