forgiveness

noun

for·​give·​ness fər-ˈgiv-nəs How to pronounce forgiveness (audio)
fȯr-
: the act of forgiving
I ask for your forgiveness.

Examples of forgiveness in a Sentence

She treats us with kindness and forgiveness. they asked her forgiveness for failing to invite her to the party
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Instead, new student loans will be given the option to pay back the loans between 10 and 25 years (the duration fluctuates based on the loan balance at graduation), as well as an option to have student loan forgiveness after 30 years of payments. Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025 Even Hinton’s father asked for forgiveness on behalf of his family. David Ferrara, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 Pros High customer satisfaction ratings Available in most states Affordable rates for teen drivers Cons Doesn’t offer gap insurance Accident forgiveness requires nine years without an at-fault accident. Liz Knueven, CNBC, 30 June 2025 About 43 million Americans have some sort of student loan debt, which proponents of forgiveness plans say limit economic mobility. Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for forgiveness

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forgiveness was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Forgiveness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forgiveness. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

forgiveness

noun
for·​give·​ness fər-ˈgiv-nəs How to pronounce forgiveness (audio)
fȯr-
: the act of forgiving : pardon

More from Merriam-Webster on forgiveness

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!