1. act of freeing from guilt or blame, exoneration; state of being free from guilt or blame, forgiveness. absolution\ab`so*lu"tion\ , n. [f. absolution, l. absolutio, fr. absolvere to absolve. see:
absolve.].
2. an absolving, or setting free from guilt, sin, or penalty; forgiveness of an offense. "government granting absolution to the nation.".
3. (civil law) an acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring and accused person innocent. [obs.].
4. (r. c. ch.) the exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven.note: in the english and other protestant churches, this act regarded as simply declaratory, not as imparting forgiveness.
5. (eccl.) an absolving from ecclesiastical penalties, -- for example, excommunication. cyc.
6. the form of words by which a penitent is absolved.
7. delivery, in speech. [obs.] jonson.absolution day (r. c. ch.), tuesday before easter.absolution the act of absolving or remitting; formal redemption as pronounced by a priest in the sacrament of penance [syn: remission, remittal, remission of sin].
8. An absolving, or setting free from guilt, sin, or penalty; forgiveness of an offense.
9. An acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring and accused person innocent.
10. The exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent are forgiven.
11. An absolving from ecclesiastical penalties, for example, excommunication.
12. The form of words by which a penitent is absolved.
13. Delivery, in speech. the act of absolving or remitting; formal redemption as pronounced by a priest in the sacrament of penance the condition of being formally forgiven by a priest in the sacrament of penance.
14. If someone is given absolution, they are forgiven for something wrong that they have done. She felt as if his words had granted her absolution. = forgiveness. when someone is formally forgiven by the Christian Church or a priest for the things they have done wrong. In Christianity, a pronouncement of forgiveness of sins made to a person who has repented. This rite is based on the forgiveness that Jesus extended to sinners during his ministry. In the early church, the priest absolved repentant sinners after they had confessed and performed their penance in public. During the Middle Ages, it became the custom for priests to hear confession and grant absolution privately. In Roman Catholicism penance is a sacrament, and the priest has the power to absolve a contrite sinner who promises to make satisfaction to God. In Protestant churches, the confession of sin is usually made in a formal prayer by the whole congregation, after which the minister announces their absolution.