indulgence
noun
in·dul·gence
in-ˈdəl-jən(t)s 
1
a
: the act of indulging in something
especially
: self-indulgence
b
: something indulged in
… walk off gastronomic indulgences.—
Barbara L. Michaels
Barbara L. Michaels2
a
: an indulgent act
b
: an extension of time for payment or performance granted as a favor
4
: remission of part or all of the temporal and especially purgatorial punishment that according to Roman Catholicism is due for sins whose eternal punishment has been remitted and whose guilt has been pardoned (as through the sacrament of reconciliation)
Examples of indulgence in a Sentence
She lived a life of selfish indulgence.
his indulgence in forbidden pleasures
She found that she couldn't afford the indulgences she had once enjoyed.
For our anniversary we allowed ourselves the indulgence of an elegant dinner at our favorite restaurant.
Good food is my only indulgence.
Recent Examples on the Web
For many, a no-phone vacation is less an indulgence than a corrective.
—Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
Crafted with better-for-you ingredients, Javvy's Instant Protein Coffee blend and viral Coffee Concentrate deliver guilt-free indulgence, offering crave-able flavors without compromise.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
You might not be tempted to jump in during the peak summer months, but this would be a welcome indulgence when cooler temps set in.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
Certainly, costs have risen, but those sorts of checks have made a hurried meal feel like an expensive indulgence and really not that different, cost-wise, from a full-service experience.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for indulgence
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Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 16 May 2026
Crafted with better-for-you ingredients, Javvy's Instant Protein Coffee blend and viral Coffee Concentrate deliver guilt-free indulgence, offering crave-able flavors without compromise.
—ABC News, 16 May 2026
You might not be tempted to jump in during the peak summer months, but this would be a welcome indulgence when cooler temps set in.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
Certainly, costs have risen, but those sorts of checks have made a hurried meal feel like an expensive indulgence and really not that different, cost-wise, from a full-service experience.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for indulgence
Cite this Entry
“Indulgence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indulgence. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
indulgence
noun
in·dul·gence
in-ˈdəl-jən(t)s
1
: the act of indulging : the state of being indulgent
2
: an indulgent act
3
: something indulged in
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