forgiving

adjective

for·​giv·​ing fər-ˈgi-viŋ 

fȯr-

1

: willing or able to forgive

2

: allowing room for error or weakness

designed to be a forgiving tennis racquet

forgivingly adverb

forgivingness noun

Examples of forgiving in a Sentence

a person with a forgiving nature

Recent Examples on the Web

And engineers designed Blue Ghost's landing legs to be more forgiving in uneven terrain or during an off-balance landing. —Kristin Shaw, Ars Technica, 27 Feb. 2025

But Tuesday’s game in Nationwide versus Dallas will be a much stiffer test, and the Stars won’t be so forgiving. —Aaron Portzline, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025

In January, Tesla's sales in France plummeted by 63.4 percent, Germany saw a 59.5 percent drop, and even the United Kingdom, a slightly more forgiving market, reported a 12 percent decline, according to EV Magazine, a specialized publication on electric vehicles. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 15 Feb. 2025

How to Grow Silver Streak Pothos Like other pothos varieties, Silver Streak is relatively forgiving, and can thrive in a variety of environments. —Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for forgiving

• almsgiving
• caregiving
• misgiving
• nonliving
• reliving
• thanksgiving
• giving
• living
• sieving
• unforgiving

Kids Definition

forgiving

adjective

for·​giv·​ing

fər-ˈgiv-iŋ,

fȯr-

1

: showing forgiveness : inclined or ready to forgive

a person with a forgiving nature

2

: allowing for human error or weakness

a tennis racket designed to be forgiving

forgivingly adverb

forgivingness noun