Dictionary
ve'nial sin'
Rom. Cath. Ch.
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.
mortal sin. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.