Words / C1

LEEN-ee-uh-nt/ˈliːniənt/

Lenient means milder than expected in judgement or punishment: a lenient sentence, lenient marking. Soft and easy-going are everyday; strict is the opposite. Lien is a legal claim on property — a lookalike. Do not confuse lenient with a published, transparent rubric.

Meaning

Not as strict as expected when judging or punishing.

Examples

• “Lenient marking is not a substitute for a published rubric.”
• “Soft is everyday. Strict / severe are opposites. Lenience and leniency are nouns. A lien is a security interest. Kind feedback can still be strict on the n.”

Good to know

Mild; not harsh. Everyday: soft. Opposite: strict. Noun: leniency. Mix-up: lien (a legal claim). Kind ≠ unprincipled.

Near in meaning

soft

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