Lenience (8)
I believe the answer is:
clemency
'lenience' is the definition.
(clemency is a kind of lenience)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for clemency that I've seen before include "Mercifulness" , "The quality of mercy" , "Quality of being merciful" , "Mercy, lenience" , "Leniency and compassion towards offenders" .)