Someone indulgent allows others (or themselves) to have what they want, even when it might not be the wisest choice. An indulgent grandparent might let you have three cookies before dinner, while your parents would have said no. An indulgent teacher might give the class extra time to finish an assignment when everyone begs for it.

The word suggests a kind of gentle permissiveness. Being indulgent isn't cruel or harsh: it's choosing to be lenient, to give in a little, to let someone enjoy something. Parents might be indulgent on vacation, relaxing the usual bedtime rules. You might feel indulgent when you decide to spend your whole Saturday reading comics instead of doing chores.

Sometimes indulgent carries a slightly negative hint: an indulgent person might spoil a child by giving them everything they want, or someone might be self-indulgent by always putting their own pleasures first. But it can also mean generous and accommodating. When your friend asks if you want to stop for ice cream even though you're running late, and you say yes, you're making an indulgent choice: putting immediate enjoyment over strict schedules.

The noun form is indulgence, meaning the thing you're allowing yourself or others to enjoy.