noun · neutral
forgiveness
UK/fəˈɡɪvnəs/US/fərˈɡɪvnəs/for·GIVE·ness
the act of stopping feeling angry or resentful towards someone for an offence
Examples
“Reconciliation often requires mutual forgiveness.”
“He asked for forgiveness and promised to change.”
“Forgiveness can improve mental health after a conflict.”
Band 8 sentence
“Long-term reconciliation between communities often depends less on legal settlements and more on mutual forgiveness and dialogue.”
Collocations
- ask for forgiveness
- seek forgiveness
- offer forgiveness
Word family
Common mistakes
He asked forgiveness from his friend.→He asked for forgiveness from his friend.
They forgave each other and had forgiveness.→They forgave each other.
Say it for a higher band
5forgive→6mercy→7+forgiveness
Synonyms
pardon
mercy
Easily confused
pardon
“After the court case, the governor granted a pardon, but the victim's forgiveness was a personal matter.”
mercy
“The judge showed mercy in sentencing, yet the family's forgiveness took much longer.”
Related words
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In -ness
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