Dictionary

absolution en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌæb.səˈl(j)u.ʃn̩/ (US)
• /æb.səˈljuː.ʃn̩/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English absolucion, absolucioun, from Old French absolution, from Latin absolūtiōnem, accusative singular of absolūtiō (“acquittal”), from absolvō (“absolve”). See also absolve.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) An absolving of sins from ecclesiastical penalties by an authority.
2. (countable, uncountable) The forgiveness of sins, in a general sense.
3. (countable, uncountable) The form of words by which a penitent is absolved.
4. (countable, uncountable) An absolving, or setting free from guilt, sin, or penalty; forgiveness of an offense.
   • The true aim of medicine is not to make men virtuous; it is to safeguard and rescue them from the consequences of their vices. The physician does not preach repentance; he offers absolution. 1919 August, H. L. Mencken, The Smart Set, pages 60–1:
   • Governments granting absolution to the nation.
5. (countable, obsolete, qualifier:civil law, uncountable) An acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent.
6. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Delivery, in speech.
   • the words are chosen , their sound ample , the composition full , the absolution plenteous 1641, Ben Jonson, Discoveries Made upon Men and Matter:

Forms

Deriveds

absolutionary · nonabsolution · Absolution Day

Relateds

indulgence

Synonyms

acquitment · not guilty · disculpation · acquittal · absolution · vindication · exculpation · acquittance · acquittance · compurgation · compurgation · exoneration · assoilment · assoilment · quittance

Translations (69)

ca absolució (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · zdj ghufrani (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · da absolution (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · ru отпуще́ние (absolving from ecclesiastical penalties) · cs rozhřešení (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · id absolusi (exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven) · tr yarlıgama (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · ja 解放 (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · ar إِبْرَاء (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · lb Absolutioun (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · hu bűnbocsánat (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · fi anteeksianto (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · bg освобождаване от отговорност (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · tr aklanma (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · id pembebasan (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · ca absolució (exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven) · de Freispruch (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · pt absolvição (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · gd saoradh (absolving from ecclesiastical penalties) · ar تَبْرِئَة (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · gd saoradh (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · tr beraat (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · pl rozgrzeszenie (absolving from ecclesiastical penalties) · sh одрјешење (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · tr bağışlama (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · nl absolutie (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · nl absolutie (absolving from ecclesiastical penalties) · pl rozgrzeszenie (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · nl absolutie (exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven) · el άφεση (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · es absolución (exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven) · fi synninpäästö (exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven) · ar غُفْرَان (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · tr mağfiret (absolving from ecclesiastical penalties) · nl vergiffenis (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · eo absolvo (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · ca absolució (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · fi syyttömäksi julistaminen (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · nb absolusjon (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · tr itiraf (exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven) · nb absolusjon (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · el άφεση (absolving from ecclesiastical penalties) · es absolución (absolving from ecclesiastical penalties) · bg опрощение (absolving from ecclesiastical penalties) · pt absolvição (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · sh odrješenje (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · de Absolution (exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven) · hu bűnbocsánat (exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven) · tr bağışlama (absolving from ecclesiastical penalties) · id pengampunan (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · id pengampunan (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · gd saoradh (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · ja 釈放 (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · pl absolucja (absolving from ecclesiastical penalties) · ru проще́ние (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · tr mağfiret (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · tr yarlıgama (absolving from ecclesiastical penalties) · de Absolution (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · bg оправдаване (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · nl vrijspraak (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · gd saoradh (exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven) · id absolusi (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · ml പാപമോചനം (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · pl absolucja (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · mi whakaharakoretanga (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent) · bg опрощение (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · nl dispensatie (absolving from ecclesiastical penalties) · es absolución (absolving or setting free from guilt, sin or penalty; forgiveness of an offense) · es absolución (acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring an accused person innocent)