The word venial comes from the Latin venialis, meaning "forgivable" or "pardonable." It refers to sins, faults, or offenses that are considered minor and easily forgivable, in contrast to mortal sins, which are considered more severe and difficult to absolve. This concept is particularly prevalent in Catholic theology, where venial sins are those that do not sever one's relationship with God and can be forgiven through prayer or penance.

In a broader sense, venial can also describe actions or mistakes that are relatively trivial or excusable, not requiring serious consequence or punishment. In both religious and secular contexts, venial is used to emphasize the mildness or lesser nature of an offense, suggesting that it does not carry the same weight as more grievous wrongs.