Vē'ni-al, a.
a. [Lat. venialis, from venia, forgiveness, pardon, It. veniale, Sp., Pg., & Pr. venial, Fr. véniel.]
Sense 1. Capable of being forgiven; not heinous; excusable; pardonable; as, a venial fault or transgression. “'Tis a venial slip.” Shak.
Sense 2. Allowed; permitted.
Permitting him the while Venial discourse unblamed. Milton.
Venial sin (Rom. Cath. Theol.), a sin which weakens, but does not wholly destroy, sanctifying grace, like mortal or deadly sins. It does not, therefore, exclude from absolution and communion, when there is evidence of repentance. Brande.