lenient
adjective /ˈliːniənt/
/ˈliːniənt/
- not as strict as expected when punishing somebody or when making sure that rules are obeyed
- a lenient sentence/fine
- The judge was far too lenient with him.
Extra ExamplesTopics Permission and obligationc1- The police are sometimes more lenient with female offenders.
- He hoped that a lenient view would be taken of his misconduct.
- The judge agreed that the sentence was unduly lenient.
- The police and courts may be more lenient with female offenders.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- become
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- with
Word Originmid 17th cent. (originally meaning mild or soothing): from Latin lenient- ‘soothing’, from the verb lenire, from lenis ‘mild, gentle’.