Mortal sin (7)
I believe the answer is:
avarice
'mortal sin' is the definition.
(avarice is a kind of mortal sin)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for avarice that I've seen before include "Insatiable desire for wealth" , "A deadly sin" , "Cupidity" , "Greed, covetousness" , "Insatiable lust" .)