Legal Definitions - venial

Definition: (Of a transgression) forgivable; pardonable.

Examples:

• Forgetting to return a library book on time is a venial offense.
• Telling a white lie to spare someone's feelings is considered a venial sin.
• Accidentally breaking a dish is a venial mistake that can be easily forgiven.

These examples illustrate how venial refers to minor offenses or mistakes that are not considered serious enough to warrant harsh punishment or condemnation. While they may still be wrong, they are forgivable and can be overlooked or excused.