[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/lenient.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / lenient

[← L](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/L/)

# lenient

«lenient» in Mova's school dictionary: **Not strict; gentle in punishing people or in making them…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

adjective (lenient, more lenient, most lenient)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Not strict; gentle in punishing people or in making them follow rules. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lenient/#m1)

2) (law) Giving a lighter punishment than expected. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lenient/#m2)

### sense 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://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lenient/#x1)
- Mum is lenient with my little brother. [tree →](https://md.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://md.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://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lenient/#x4)
- Some people think the new rules are too lenient. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lenient/#x5)
- Grandma is more lenient about bedtime than Dad. [tree →](https://md.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.

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «lenient» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/L/lenient/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.