leniency

/ˈlinjɪnsi/

/ˈlinjɪnsi/

Other forms: leniencies

Leniency is a noun that refers to the lessening of a punishment or chore. Your father's leniency, for example, resulted in you not having to paint the entire house like your mother wanted. Instead you just had to paint the garage.

Leniency also refers to a person's sense of mercy or tolerance. A governor's leniency could be demonstrated when he pardons the prisoners on death row. Leniency comes from the adjective lenient, which describes someone who is tolerant or permissive. There are times when too much leniency can backfire, however. If your teacher shows leniency to the loud students who won't sit still and refuses to punish them, the rest of your class won't learn much.

Definitions of leniency

1. noun

   a disposition to yield to the wishes of someone
   synonyms: indulgence, lenience

   types:

   softness

   a disposition to be lenient in judging others

   type of:

   permissiveness, tolerance

   a disposition to allow freedom of choice and behavior
2. noun

   mercifulness as a consequence of being lenient or tolerant
   synonyms: lenience, lenity, mildness

   type of:

   mercifulness, mercy

   a disposition to be kind and forgiving
3. noun

   lightening a penalty or excusing from a chore by judges or parents or teachers
   synonyms: lenience

   types:

   clemency, mercifulness, mercy

   leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice

   commutation, re-sentencing

   (law) the reduction in severity of a punishment imposed by law

   amnesty, free pardon, pardon

   the formal act of liberating someone

   quarter

   clemency or mercy shown to a defeated opponent

   reprieve, respite

   the act of reprieving; postponing or remitting punishment

   type of:

   tolerance

   the act of tolerating something