WordGarden.ioindulgence
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪndˈʌldʒəns/
US
- /ˌɪnˈdəldʒəns/
Meanings
Noun
the act or habit of satisfying desires or enjoying pleasures, often excessively
something enjoyed as a special pleasure or luxury
lenient or permissive treatment of someone
More meaningsFewer meanings
in Catholic teaching, remission of temporal punishment for sin
Beyond the definition
Indulgence is not just about treating yourself. It is about letting yourself have something pleasant, often something a little extra or unnecessary. Think of a rich chocolate cake after a diet, a long bubble bath when you have a million things to do, or letting your child stay up late for a special occasion. It is a moment of giving in to desire, and sometimes it feels well deserved. But too much indulgence can lead to problems, like an empty wallet or a sugar rush. The word often suggests a touch of excess. It is not simply having something nice, but choosing to enjoy it even when you maybe should not.
Indulgence is the act of allowing yourself to enjoy something that satisfies a desire, often something seen as luxurious, pleasurable, or not really necessary. It is more than simple enjoyment. It suggests a conscious choice to give in to a wish or temptation, sometimes even when you know there may be consequences.
Historically, "indulgence" also had an important religious meaning. In the Catholic Church, it referred not to forgiveness of the sin itself, but to a reduction of the temporal punishment connected with sin after forgiveness. That meaning is much less common in everyday conversation now, but it still appears in discussions of history and religion.
Today, we often use it for food ("a chocolate indulgence"), comfort ("a spa day as a little indulgence"), spending, or free time. It can also describe the way someone treats other people, especially when they are too willing to let them do what they want. For example, a grandparent might be described as indulgent with a child.
However, "indulgence" is not always positive. Too much of it can suggest a lack of self-control or discipline. You might say someone is "living an indulgent lifestyle" if they spend a lot on luxuries or always choose comfort over restraint. The word often carries a quiet warning: enjoying life's pleasures can be good, but too much can be harmful.
So whether it means a small treat that brightens your day, a habit of over-enjoying life's pleasures, or a forgiving attitude toward someone's behavior, indulgence is about the balance between desire and restraint, and about what happens when we decide to give in.
Examples
- 1
Small treat
I don't buy fancy coffee every day, but one on a Friday afternoon feels like a small indulgence.
- 2
Vacation pleasure
On vacation, they allowed themselves the occasional indulgence of room service and late breakfasts.
- 3
Personal reward
After months of saving, she decided that a weekend at the spa was worth the indulgence.
- 4
Parenting
His parents' constant indulgence made it hard for him to accept limits later.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Social criticism
The article criticized the rich for their indulgence in luxury while others struggled to pay rent.
- Patternindulgence in + pleasure/luxury
allowing yourself too much of it
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- indulgencenoun
Forms
- indulgencespluralnoun