confession

noun

con·​fes·​sion kən-ˈfe-shən How to pronounce confession (audio)
Synonyms of confessionnext
1
a
: an act of confessing
especially : a disclosure of one's sins in the sacrament of reconciliation
b
: a session for the confessing of sins
go to confession
2
: a statement of what is confessed: such as
a
: a written or oral acknowledgment of guilt by a party accused of an offense
b
: a formal statement of religious beliefs : creed
the Augsburg Confession of the Lutheran Church
3
: an organized religious body having a common creed

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of confession in a Sentence

She went to the police station and made a full confession. I have a confession to make: I have never done this before. The priest will hear confessions after mass today. I haven't gone to confession in three years.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But a February 2019 confession from two brothers questioned in connection with the attack quickly led to the unraveling of Smollett’s account and credibility. —Megan Thomas, CNN, 22 Nov. 2024 The first three episodes involve Wyler attempting to trap Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear) in a confession, a plan that fails spectacularly because Wyler follows a series of embarrassingly incorrect hunches. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024 This confession follows the recent season 14 reunion, which deviated from the traditional reunion. —Charna Flam, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024 Defense calls Allen's sister and daughter, shows more prison videos in bid to discredit confessions Jurors heard from Allen's half-sister and daughter, each of whom testified briefly that neither of them were ever molested by Allen. —Ron Wilkins, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for confession 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English confessioun, borrowed from Anglo-French confession, borrowed from Latin confessiōn-, confessiō, from confiteor, confitērī "to admit (a fact, the truth of a statement or charge)" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at confess

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of confession was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing confession

Dictionary Entries Near confession

confessio fidei

confession

confessional

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Confession.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confession. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

confession

noun
con·​fes·​sion kən-ˈfesh-ən How to pronounce confession (audio)
1
a
: an act of confessing
especially : a telling of one's sins to a priest
b
: a meeting for the confessing of sins
go to confession
2
: a statement admitting guilt
the thief signed a confession
3
: a formal statement of religious beliefs : creed

Legal Definition

confession

noun
con·​fes·​sion
1
: an act of confessing
2
: an acknowledgment of a fact or allegation as true or proven
especially : a written or oral statement by an accused party acknowledging the party's guilt (as by admitting commission of a crime) compare admission, declaration against interest at declaration, self-incrimination

Note: Courts differ on how a confession establishes the accused's guilt; for example, in some jurisdictions the confession has to establish all the necessary elements of the crime. In order to be admissible as evidence, a confession must be voluntary. A guilty plea is considered a judicial confession.

More from Merriam-Webster on confession

Nglish: Translation of confession for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of confession for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about confession

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