What does "venial" refer to in terms of faults or errors?

The term "venial" specifically refers to faults or errors that are minor and can be easily excused or forgiven. In the context of moral wrongdoing or offenses, a venial sin is one that does not incur the full penalty of the law or divine judgment because it lacks the gravity of a more serious transgression. Thus, it conveys the idea that the fault is rather trivial and can be pardoned without significant consequence.

This understanding aligns well with the choice that describes venial as "easily excused; pardonable." Such errors do not hold substantial weight and often pertain to minor lapses in judgment or behavior that do not fundamentally alter one's moral standing. In contrast, the other provided definitions denote more severe or complex characteristics that do not accurately convey the essence of "venial."