venial sin: Meaning and Definition of

ve'nial sin'

Pronunciation: [key]
— Rom. Cath. Ch. Rom. Cath. Ch.
  1. a transgression against the law of God that does not deprive the soul of divine grace either because it is a minor offense or because it was committed without full understanding of its seriousness or without full consent of the will. Cf.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.