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

2

a

: an indulgent act

b

: an extension of time for payment or performance granted as a favor

3

: the act of indulging : the state of being indulgent

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)

Synonyms

• benevolence
• boon
• courtesy
• favor
• grace
• kindness
• mercy
• service
• turn

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 year is 2052 when an era of peace and unbridled indulgence reigns supreme. —Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 20 June 2025

More Active Culinary Travel Doing exercise and burning calories goes great with guilt-free indulgence in great food and drink, and many of the best biking and hiking destinations are foodie paradise, from Italy to Japan. —Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

This mocktail is pure indulgence with a playful twist. —Essence, 17 June 2025

The club, in other words, had to go from indulgence to running itself as a business. —James Horncastle, New York Times, 30 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing indulgence

• plenary indulgence
• self-indulgence

Rhymes for indulgence

• overindulgence

Kids 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