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# lenient

adjective (lenient, more lenient, most lenient)

«lenient» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Not strict; gentle in punishing people or in making them follow rules. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lenient/#m1)
2. (law) Giving a lighter punishment than expected. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lenient/#m2)

### In the lessons

In everyday school life it describes teachers or parents who allow more, or rules that are soft; in law and news, a lenient sentence is a light punishment. In stories it can show kindness or weakness. Phrases: a lenient teacher, lenient with, lenient sentence.

### Examples

- Our supply teacher was very lenient and let us talk. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lenient/#x1)
- Mum is lenient with my little brother. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lenient/#x2)
- The judge gave a lenient sentence because it was his first crime. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lenient/#x3)
- The referee was too lenient and didn't give a yellow card. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lenient/#x4)
- Some people think the new rules are too lenient. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lenient/#x5)
- Grandma is more lenient about bedtime than Dad. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lenient/#x6)

### Note

Usually «lenient with someone» or «lenient on something». Opposite: strict, harsh. Noun: leniency. Pronounced LEE-nee-ent.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «lenient» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lenient/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«lenient» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lenient.html) on Mova free.