indulgence

UK: /ɪnˈdʌldʒ^əns/ US: /ɪnˈdʌldʒəns/ ,(in dul′jəns)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•dul•gence /ɪnˈdʌldʒəns/   n. 

1. the act or practice of indulging:
   [uncountable] Too much indulgence can spoil your children.
2. something indulged in:
   [countable] Rich desserts are an indulgence.
3. Religion understanding;
   tolerance;
   forgiveness:
   [uncountable] The pilot asked for the passengers' indulgence during the delay.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•dul•gence  (in dul′jəns), n., v., -genced, -genc•ing. 
n. 

1. the act or practice of indulging;
   gratification of desire.
2. the state of being indulgent.
3. indulgent allowance or tolerance.
4. a catering to someone's mood or whim;
   humoring:
   The sick man demanded indulgence as his due.
5. something indulged in:
   Her favorite indulgence was candy.
6. Religion [Rom. Cath. Ch.] a partial remission of the temporal punishment, esp. purgatorial atonement, that is still due for a sin or sins after absolution. Cf. plenary indulgence.
7. Religion [Eng. and Scot. Hist.] (in the reigns of Charles II and James II) a grant by the king to Protestant dissenters and Roman Catholics freeing them from certain penalties imposed, by legislation, because of their religion.
8. Business [Com.] an extension, through favor, of time for payment or performance.

v.t. 

9. Religion [Rom. Cath. Ch.] to provide with an indulgence:
   an indulgenced pilgrimage to Rome.

• Latin indulgentia. See indulge, -ence
• Middle English 1325–75

Synonyms

• 3. sufferance, forbearance, allowance.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

indulgence / ɪnˈdʌldʒəns/ noun

1. the act of indulging or state of being indulgent
2. a pleasure, habit, etc, indulged in; extravagance
3. liberal or tolerant treatment
4. something granted as a favour or privilege
5. a remission of the temporal punishment for sin after its guilt has been forgiven
6. Also called: Declaration of Indulgence a royal grant during the reigns of Charles II and James II of England giving Nonconformists and Roman Catholics a measure of religious freedom