Venality vs. Veniality — What's the Difference?

Venality is a vice associated with being bribeable or willing to sell one's services or power, especially when people are intended to act in a decent way instead. In its most recognizable form, venality causes people to lie and steal for their own personal advantage, and is related to bribery and nepotism, among other vices.

Easily excused or forgiven; pardonable

The condition of being susceptible to bribery or corruption.

Roman Catholic Church Minor, therefore warranting only temporal punishment.

The use of a position of trust for dishonest gain.

(uncountable) The quality of being venial (pardonable).

The fact or state of being for sale, especially with reference to bribes or corruption.

(countable) A venial (pardonable) action or an instance of venial behaviour.

The quality or state of being venal, or purchasable; mercenariness; prostitution of talents, offices, or services, for money or reward; as, the venality of a corrupt court; the venality of an official.

The quality or state of being venial; venialness.

Prostitution of talents or offices or services for reward