forgiveness
gb/fɚɡˈɪvnəs/ us/fɚɡˈɪvnəs/
B1
English
~ 5800
megbocsátás, bocsánat, megbocsátó természet, megbocsátókészség, bűnbocsánat, bűnök bocsánata, adósságelengedés, tartozás elengedése, hibatűrés, hibatűrő képesség, sokat megbocsát
NOUN
B1
1
megbocsátás
B1
bocsánat
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] asks for / offers / grants forgiveness for [something]
After months of silence, he finally asked her for forgiveness.
Hónapokig tartó hallgatás után végül bocsánatot kért tőle.
Her forgiveness allowed the family to heal after the argument.
A megbocsátása segített a családnak feldolgozni a veszekedést.
They met in person so he could offer a sincere apology and seek her forgiveness.
Forgiveness does not mean forgetting what happened, but choosing not to stay angry.
The letter was a plea for forgiveness, not an attempt to make excuses.
Learner examples
She asked her friend for forgiveness after she shouted at him.
Bocsánatot kért a barátjától, amiért kiabált vele.
He gave his brother forgiveness and they became close again.
Megbocsátott a testvérének, és újra közel kerültek egymáshoz.
Forgiveness can make you feel calm instead of angry.
The child cried and begged for forgiveness from his mother.
Forgiveness is important if you want to fix a relationship.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"ask a forgiveness"* or *"ask forgiveness to him"*. The correct phrases are *"ask for forgiveness"* (use "for") and *"ask him for forgiveness"* (object + "for"). Another confusion is using *"sorry"* as a noun, e.g. *"I asked for sorry"*; instead say *"I asked for forgiveness"* or *"I said I was sorry."*
Meaning
decision to stop being angry
Collocations
ask for forgiveness
|offer forgiveness
|grant forgiveness
|seek forgiveness
|beg for forgiveness
|find forgiveness
Synonyms
pardon (Often slightly more formal or legal; can sound less emotional than “forgiveness.”)
|
mercy (Emphasizes kindness and not punishing, sometimes when punishment is deserved.)
Antonyms
resentment (Refers to continued anger and bitterness instead of letting go.)
|
revenge (Actively trying to hurt someone back instead of forgiving them.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|conflict
|values
Definition
The act of stopping your anger toward someone who did something bad to you and not wanting to hurt or punish them anymore.
The act of choosing to let go of anger or resentment toward someone who has hurt or wronged you, and not wishing to punish them.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] shows / has [great] forgiveness toward [someone]
Her forgiveness and patience with her children are remarkable.
Csodálatra méltó, milyen megbocsátó és türelmes a gyerekeivel.
The speech called for forgiveness and unity after years of conflict.
A beszéd évekig tartó konfliktus után megbocsátásra és egységre szólított fel.
He admired his grandfather’s deep forgiveness, even toward people who had betrayed him.
Forgiveness is a central value in many families and communities.
In moments like this, forgiveness can be more powerful than punishment.
Learner examples
Her forgiveness makes it easy to talk about mistakes.
Megbocsátó természete miatt könnyű vele beszélni a hibákról.
His heart is full of love and forgiveness.
A szíve tele van szeretettel és megbocsátással.
The teacher showed forgiveness and did not punish the students.
Forgiveness can help people live in peace.
We need more kindness and forgiveness in the world.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the trait *"forgiveness"* with the adjective *"forgiving"*. Use *"forgiveness"* for the idea or quality ("Her forgiveness is amazing") and *"forgiving"* to describe a person ("She is very forgiving").
Meaning
quality of being forgiving
Collocations
capacity for forgiveness
|spirit of forgiveness
|act of forgiveness
|message of forgiveness
|extraordinary forgiveness
Synonyms
leniency (Suggests being less strict or less severe in judging or punishing than expected.)
|
compassion (Stresses understanding and caring for others’ pain, which often leads to forgiveness.)
Antonyms
vindictiveness (Describes a strong desire to hurt or punish someone who has caused harm.)
|
harshness (Implies strict, severe judgment without much willingness to forgive.)
Themes
emotions
|personality
|values
|relationships
Definition
A kind way of thinking where you are ready to forgive people instead of staying angry with them.
The quality or attitude of being willing to forgive others easily rather than staying angry or wanting punishment.
NOUN
B2
3
bűnbocsánat
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] seeks / receives / prays for forgiveness of [sins]
He went to the temple to pray for forgiveness of his sins.
Elment a templomba, hogy bűnei bocsánatáért imádkozzon.
Many religious traditions teach that forgiveness comes through sincere repentance.
Sok vallási hagyomány azt tanítja, hogy a bűnbocsánat őszinte bűnbánat révén nyerhető el.
She believed that God’s forgiveness gave her a chance to begin again.
The priest spoke about the power of divine forgiveness during the service.
For them, forgiveness from God was more important than human approval.
Learner examples
He asked God for forgiveness for his lies.
Isten bocsánatát kérte a hazugságaiért.
The church teaches about the forgiveness of sins.
Az egyház a bűnök bocsánatáról tanít.
They pray every day for God’s love and forgiveness.
She believed she had received God’s forgiveness.
In this religion, forgiveness is possible if you are truly sorry.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes drop the preposition in the phrase *"forgiveness of sins"*, saying *"forgiveness sins"*. The common religious collocation is *"forgiveness of sins"* or *"forgiveness for your sins"*.
Meaning
God’s or a deity’s pardon
Collocations
forgiveness of sins
|divine forgiveness
|God’s forgiveness
|seek forgiveness from God
|prayer for forgiveness
Synonyms
absolution (A religious term, especially in Christianity, for official declaration that sins are forgiven.)
Antonyms
condemnation (Religious or moral judgment that someone is guilty and deserves punishment.)
|
damnation (In some religions, eternal punishment instead of being forgiven.)
Themes
religion
|values
|morality
Definition
In religion, when God or another god takes away a person’s sin or blame, so the person is no longer guilty in a spiritual way.
In religious contexts, the state of having sins or moral guilt removed by God or another deity, so that the person is no longer spiritually blamed or punished for them.
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
[authority] grants / offers [loan/debt] forgiveness to [someone]
The government announced a new student loan forgiveness program for low-income graduates.
A kormány új programot jelentett be az alacsony jövedelmű diplomások diákhitel-tartozásainak elengedésére.
After the disaster, the bank offered partial mortgage forgiveness to affected homeowners.
A katasztrófa után a bank felajánlotta az érintett lakástulajdonosoknak a jelzáloghitel-tartozásuk részleges elengedését.
Debt forgiveness was a key part of the country’s economic recovery plan.
Activists are calling for complete loan forgiveness for medical debt.
Tax forgiveness was granted to businesses that kept all of their employees.
Learner examples
The bank gave him loan forgiveness after he lost his job.
A bank elengedte a hiteltartozását, miután elvesztette az állását.
Student loan forgiveness is an important topic in the news.
A diákhitelek elengedése fontos téma a hírekben.
Debt forgiveness can help poor countries start again.
She hopes for loan forgiveness so she can buy a home.
The new law includes tax forgiveness for small companies.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"forgive the loan"* when they mean the official policy. In formal or news-style English, the common phrase is *"loan forgiveness"* or *"debt forgiveness"*, especially for large groups of people.
Meaning
official cancellation of a debt
Collocations
loan forgiveness
|student loan forgiveness
|debt forgiveness
|mortgage forgiveness
|loan forgiveness program
Synonyms
cancellation (A general word for ending a payment or obligation so it no longer exists.)
|
write-off (A financial term for treating a debt as uncollectable and removing it from accounts; more technical than "forgiveness.")
Antonyms
repayment (Paying back money that is owed instead of having it cancelled.)
|
collection (Efforts to make borrowers pay debts, the opposite of cancelling them.)
Themes
business
|economy
|law
|education
|finance
Definition
When a bank, government, or other group decides that you do not have to pay back some or all of your debt or tax.
The official cancellation of all or part of a financial debt, tax, or similar obligation so that it no longer has to be repaid.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
5
Usage pattern:
[product/system] offers / has [a lot of] forgiveness for [user errors]
The new driver-assistance system has more forgiveness for minor steering errors.
Az új vezetéstámogató rendszer jobban tolerálja a kisebb kormányzási hibákat.
These golf clubs offer extra forgiveness, making them ideal for beginners.
Ezek a golfütők sok hibát megbocsátanak, ezért ideálisak kezdőknek.
Good user-interface design builds in forgiveness so that one wrong click does not cause serious problems.
We designed the process with enough forgiveness to handle late data and small input mistakes.
A lack of forgiveness in the controls makes the machine hard for new operators to use.
Learner examples
This golf club has a lot of forgiveness, so bad hits still go straight.
Ez a golfütő sok hibát megbocsát, ezért a rossz ütések után is egyenesen száll a labda.
Good software should have some forgiveness for user mistakes.
A jó szoftvernek valamennyire tolerálnia kell a felhasználói hibákat.
The engineer added more forgiveness to the system to make it safer.
Because of the forgiveness in the design, new workers can learn quickly.
A product with more forgiveness is easier for people to use.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to read this sense emotionally, as if the machine "forgives" people in a human way. In technical talk, *"forgiveness"* here is about tolerance for error in performance, not feelings or morality.
Meaning
design’s tolerance of user error
Collocations
built-in forgiveness
|design forgiveness
|club with a lot of forgiveness
|forgiveness in the system
|high forgiveness rating
Synonyms
tolerance (General technical term for how much error or variation a system can accept without failing.)
|
margin of error (Amount of error that can occur without causing serious problems; not limited to user mistakes.)
Antonyms
sensitivity (Describes systems that react strongly to small errors, the opposite of forgiving designs.)
|
rigidity (Very strict limits for correct use, with little room for user error.)
Themes
technology
|engineering
|sports
Definition
In design or sports, how well a tool or system still works when a person does not use it perfectly or makes a mistake.
In design, engineering, or sports equipment, the degree to which a system or product continues to perform acceptably and safely even when the user makes mistakes or uses it imperfectly.
Grammar
Dictionary form
forgiveness
IPA
GB/fɚɡˈɪvnəs/
US/fɚɡˈɪvnəs/
Syllables & stress
for - give - ness (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (for)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: forgiveness
- Plural: forgiveness
Word family
Core family
forgive
verb B1
forgiving
adjective
Related words
forgivable
adjective
forgiver
noun
Negative and opposite forms
unforgiving
adjective
unforgivable
adjective
Advanced or less common
forgivingly
adverb
unforgivably
adverb
Expressions
ask for forgiveness
1/ˈæsk fɚ fɚɡˈɪvnəs/
fixed phrase
request that someone forgives you
To tell someone you are sorry and want them to forgive you for something you did.
Examples
- He finally called his sister to ask for forgiveness.
- Sometimes it is hard to ask for forgiveness, even when you know you were wrong.
- You should ask for forgiveness as soon as you realize your mistake.
beg for forgiveness
1/bˈɛɡ fɚ fɚɡˈɪvnəs/
fixed phrase
urgently ask to be forgiven
To ask in a very strong, emotional way for someone to forgive you.
Examples
- He knelt down and begged for forgiveness, tears running down his face.
- After the scandal, the politician went on TV to beg for forgiveness from the public.
debt forgiveness
1/dˈɛt fɚɡˈɪvnəs/
fixed phrase
formal
cancellation of a debt
When a person, company, or country is told it does not have to pay back some or all of the money it owes.
Examples
- International lenders agreed to partial debt forgiveness for the struggling nation.
- Debt forgiveness can give poor countries a chance to rebuild their economies.
forgiveness of sins
1/fɚɡˈɪvnəs əv sˈɪnz/
fixed phrase
religious removal of sin
In religion, when God or another god takes away a person’s sins so they are no longer guilty.
Examples
- The sermon focused on the forgiveness of sins through repentance.
- In this faith, baptism is a sign of the forgiveness of sins.
grant forgiveness
1/ɡɹˈænt fɚɡˈɪvnəs/
fixed phrase
formal
formally decide to forgive
To decide and say that you forgive someone, often in a serious or official situation.
Examples
- The victim’s family chose to grant forgiveness instead of asking for a harsh sentence.
- Only the board can grant forgiveness for this kind of policy violation.
loan forgiveness
1/lˈoʊn fɚɡˈɪvnəs/
fixed phrase
formal
cancellation of a loan debt
When a bank or government decides that you do not have to pay back some or all of a loan.
Examples
- The new law expands loan forgiveness for public service workers.
- Many graduates are counting on loan forgiveness to manage their debt.
seek forgiveness
1/sˈik fɚɡˈɪvnəs/
fixed phrase
try to obtain forgiveness
To try to get someone, or God, to forgive you, often over a period of time.
Examples
- He spent years seeking forgiveness from his daughter for leaving when she was young.
- In many religions, believers seek forgiveness through prayer and good deeds.