confession

pronunciation

How to pronounce confession in British English: UK [kənˈfeʃn]word uk audio image

How to pronounce confession in American English: US [kənˈfɛʃən] word us audio image

  • Noun:
    an admission of misdeeds or faults
    a written document acknowledging an offense and signed by the guilty party
    (Roman Catholic Church) the act of a penitent disclosing his sinfulness before a priest in the sacrament of penance in the hope of absolution
    a public declaration of your faith
    a document that spells out the belief system of a given church (especially the Reformation churches of the 16th century)

Word Origin

confession (n.)
late 14c., "action of confessing," originally in religion, from Old French confession (10c.), from Latin confessionem (nominative confessio) "confession, acknowledgement," noun of action from past participle stem of confiteri (see confess). In law, from 1570s. Meaning "that which is confessed" is mid-15c. An Old English word for it was andettung, also scriftspræc.

Example

1. Yet the scene is not of individualistic repentance and confession .
2. For many of america 's investors , immelt 's confession is an apostasy .
3. Clare was shaken by this unexpected confession .
4. Mr abtahi 's wife and daughter , ignoring warnings to remain silent , asserted that his confession had been forced .
5. He described the crime in grisly detail to members of a co-defendant 's family later that evening and signed a written confession a few days later .

more: >How to Use "confession" with Example Sentences