Definition of: venial

(vē′nē·əl, vēn′yəl) adjective
That may be pardoned or overlooked: excusable. [<OF <L venialis <venia forgiveness, mercy]
—ve′·ni·al′i·ty (-al′ə·tē), ve′ni·al·ness noun
—ve′ni·al·ly adverb Synonyms: excusable, pardonable, slight, trivial. Aside from its technical ecclesiastical use, venial is always understood as marking some fault comparatively slight or trivial. A venial offense is one readily overlooked; a pardonable offense requires more serious consideration, but on deliberation is found to be susceptible of pardon. Excusable is scarcely applied to offenses, but to matters open to doubt or criticism rather than direct censure; so used, it often falls little short of justifiable; as, I suppose, under those circumstances, his action was excusable. Antonyms: inexcusable, mortal, unpardonable.