Meaning & use
dispensation
Last updated
Official permission to be exempt from a rule or usual requirement, or the action of distributing something.
See it in a sentence
The church granted a special dispensation allowing the wedding to proceed during Lent.
The charity's dispensation of food and supplies reached hundreds of families.
A note on using this word
Most often encountered in religious or legal contexts, where it refers to a formal exception granted by an authority.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
A system of order, government, or organization of a society, especially in a religious context.
Theologians debate the differences between the old and new dispensations.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “dispensation”, then compare your use with the examples above.