leniency

L1E1N1I1E1N1C3Y4
/ˈliːni.ən(t)si/especially/ˈliːnjən(t)si/

noun

The quality of mercy or forgiveness, especially in the assignment of punishment as in a court case.

“The convicted felon asked for leniency, but because the crime was so heinous the judge refused and gave the maximum sentence.”

Similar
leniencemildnesslenityindulgence
OriginLatin lēn(iō) →
UncommonScrabble 13
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Meanings

nounleniency (countable and uncountable, plural leniencies)

plural leniencies

  1. countableuncountableThe quality of mercy or forgiveness, especially in the assignment of punishment as in a court case.

    The convicted felon asked for leniency, but because the crime was so heinous the judge refused and gave the maximum sentence.

  2. countableuncountableAn act of being lenient.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounmercifulness as a consequence of being lenient or tolerant

Similar
leniencemildnesslenity
Broader
mercifulnessmercy

nouna disposition to yield to the wishes of someone

Similar
indulgencelenience
Broader
permissivenesstolerance

nounlightening a penalty or excusing from a chore by judges or parents or teachers

Similar
lenience
Broader
tolerance
Also see
indulgenceleniencelenientnesslenitymercymildness

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinlēn(iō)“to soften, soothe”
  2. Englishleniency

From lenience + -y, from Latin lēn(iō) (“to soften, soothe”), from lēnis (“soft”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian снизходителност
  • снизходителност (snizhoditelnost)quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
Chinese Mandarin 寬大 /宽大, 仁慈
  • 寬大 /宽大 (kuāndà)quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
  • 仁慈 (réncí)quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
  • 寬容行為 /宽容行为 (kuānróng xíngwéi)act of being lenient
Esperanto malsevereco
  • malseverecoquality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
Finnish lievyys, lempeys
  • lievyysquality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
  • lempeysact of being lenient
French indulgence, clémence
  • indulgencequality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
  • clémencequality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
  • indulgenceact of being lenient
German Milde, Nachsicht
  • Mildequality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
  • Nachsichtquality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
Greek επιείκεια
  • επιείκεια (epieíkeia)quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
Italian clemenza
  • clemenzaquality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
Korean 너그러움
  • 너그러움 (neogeureoum)quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
Latin clēmentia
  • clēmentiaquality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
Polish pobłażliwość
  • pobłażliwośćquality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
Portuguese leniência
  • leniênciaquality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
Romanian blândețe, toleranță
  • blândețequality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
  • toleranțăquality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
  • indulgențăquality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
  • îngăduințăquality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
Russian снисходительность, снисхожде́ние
  • снисходительность (snisxoditelʹnostʹ)quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
  • снисхожде́ние (snisxoždénije)quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
Slovak zhovievavosť, milosrdnosť
  • zhovievavosťquality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
  • milosrdnosťquality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
Spanish lenidad, manga ancha
  • lenidadquality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
  • manga anchaquality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
Swedish mildhet
  • mildhetquality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
Ukrainian побла́жливість, виба́чливість
  • побла́жливість (poblážlyvistʹ)quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
  • виба́чливість (vybáčlyvistʹ)quality of mercy or forgiveness — see also clemency, indulgence
Cite this entry
APA

leniency. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leniency

MLA

“leniency.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leniency. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “leniency,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leniency.

Source: leniency on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.