not as strict as expected when punishing somebody or when making sure that rules are obeyed a lenient sentence/fine The judge was far too lenient with him. Oxford Collocations Dictionary verbsbe, become adverbextremely, fairly, very, … prepositionwith See full entry Word Originmid 17th cent. (originally meaning mild or soothing): from Latin lenient- ‘soothing’, from the verb lenire, from lenis ‘mild, gentle’.Extra examples The police are sometimes more lenient with female offenders. He hoped that a lenient view would be taken of his misconduct. The judge agreed that the sentence was unduly lenient. The police and courts may be more lenient with female offenders.
Check pronunciation: lenient
