What does indulgence mean?
Indulgence means permission to enjoy something, especially a pleasurable food, experience, or luxury. In ordinary modern usage, it can describe a harmless treat, as in enjoying a special meal, but it can also carry a negative implication when it refers to excessive gratification of personal desires. The word is also used in historical and religious contexts for a formal grant of permission or exemption, particularly a remission granted by the Church. Its tone therefore ranges from appreciative to disapproving depending on context. A useful distinction is between an indulgence, which names the permission or practice of self-indulgence, and the verb indulge, which describes the act of allowing oneself or someone else to enjoy something.
nounPermission or freedom to enjoy something, especially food, entertainment, or a luxury. It can also refer to excessive self-indulgence or, historically, a formal grant of exemption from a duty or obligation.
- The freedom or permission to enjoy something.
- Excessive gratification of one's desires, especially in food, drink, or luxury.
- A privilege or concession granted by an authority.
- In historical religious usage, a formal remission of a penalty or obligation.
"The hotel offers guests the indulgence of a late breakfast and a spa treatment."
"After a demanding week, she allowed herself the indulgence of ordering dessert."
"The charity's excess of indulgence raised questions about its financial management."
The standard plural is 'indulgences,' used for individual instances of permission, pleasure, or excess.
"The resort offers several small indulgences for guests throughout the day."
From Latin for allowing, 'indulgence' has shifted from a ruler's permission to our familiar excuse for a little extra pleasure.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does indulgence come from?
Indulgence comes from Latin indulgentia, a noun meaning pardon or permission, derived from indulgere, 'to allow' or 'to grant indulgence.' The word entered English in the late Middle English period and initially referred to pardon or tolerance granted by an authority. Its modern associations with self-gratification developed later, while the older religious sense of remission remained established in historical contexts.
Related word forms
How indulgence is actually used
In modern general use, 'indulgence' is often mildly critical when it refers to excessive self-indulgence, but it can be approving when referring to a welcome or luxurious privilege. The historical and religious senses are specialized and less common.
Easily confused with indulgence
Indulgence is the permission or habit of allowing enjoyment, whereas to indulge is the verb meaning to treat oneself to something or to allow someone to do so.