lenient

UK: /ˈliːniənt/

US: /ˈliniənt, ˈlinjənt/

US: (lē′nē ənt, lēn′yənt)

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

le•ni•ent /ˈliniənt, ˈlinyənt/   adj. 

1. not strict or severe;
   kind;
   indulgent:
   to be lenient toward the children.

le•ni•ent•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

le•ni•ent  (lē′nē ənt, lēn′yənt), adj. 

1. agreeably tolerant;
   permissive;
   indulgent:
   He tended to be lenient toward the children. More lenient laws encouraged greater freedom of expression.
2. [Archaic.] softening, soothing, or alleviative.

• Latin lēnient- (stem of lēniēns), present participle of lēnīre to soften, alleviate, soothe. See lenis, -ent
• 1645–55

le′ni•ent•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

lenient / ˈliːnɪənt/ adjective

1. showing or characterized by mercy or tolerance

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin lēnīre to soothe, from lēnis soft

ˈleniency, ˈlenience noun

ˈleniently adverb