What does "confession" mean?
The open admittance of having done something (especially something bad).
Confession
/kənˈfɛʃən/ noun
noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The open admittance of having done something (especially something bad).
- Grammar: confession is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: abject apology, acceptance, acknowledgment, acknowledgment exclamation.
- Useful contrasts: concealment, denial, pleas.
- Usage evidence: The police forced a confession from her.
How to use "confession"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "confession" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "confession" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "confession" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "confession" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "confession" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abject apology" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "confession", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The open admittance of having done something (especially something bad). countable, uncountable
"Without the real murderer's confession, an innocent person could be jailed."
- 2 (Roman Catholic Church) the act of a penitent disclosing their sinfulness before a priest in the sacrament of penance in the hope of absolution wordnet
- 3 A formal document providing such an admission. countable, uncountable
"He forced me to sign a confession!"
- 4 a written document acknowledging an offense and signed by the guilty party wordnet
- 5 The disclosure of one's sins to a priest for absolution. In the Roman Catholic Church, it is now also termed the sacrament of reconciliation. countable, uncountable
"I went to confession and now I feel much better about what I had done."
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 the document that spells out the belief system of a given church (especially the Reformation churches of the 16th century) wordnet
- 7 Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith. countable, uncountable
"With the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
- 8 a public declaration of your faith wordnet
- 9 A formula in which the articles of faith are comprised; a creed to be assented to or signed, as a preliminary to admission to membership of a church; a confession of faith. countable, uncountable
- 10 an admission of misdeeds or faults wordnet
- 11 The act of professing one's love. Japanese, countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The police forced a confession from her."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "confession"?
Common synonyms include: abject apology, acceptance, acknowledgment, acknowledgment exclamation, adherents, admission.
How do you use "confession" in a sentence?
The police forced a confession from her.
How do you pronounce "confession"?
Pronounced /kənˈfɛʃən/.
Etymology
From Middle English confessioun, from Old French confession, from Latin cōnfessiō, cōnfessiōnem (“confession, acknowledgment, creed or avowal of one's faith”). Displaced native Old English andetnes. Doublet of confessio. Morphologically confess + -ion. Sense 6 is a calque of 告白 (kokuhaku).