confession

noun

con·​fes·​sion kən-ˈfe-shən How to pronounce confession (audio)
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

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 The case involved secret payments, dishonest business dealings and an unlikely confession by Berenyi that brought the scheme to light. The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024 The film is a fervent and trenchant work of political psychology, living history, investigative journalism, and anguished confession. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Loudon’s wife moved out of the couple’s home and cut off contact with him after his confession. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 23 Feb. 2024 But he's recanted his confession, prosecutors backed off two weeks before he was supposed to go to trial, and her family has no clue who killed her. Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 20 Feb. 2024 This bold confession made the normally confident Chi-town native nervous, complete with butterflies in her stomach. Taiia Smart Young, Essence, 14 Feb. 2024 In his closing argument to the jury earlier this week, Hartsfield said his statements to police were the product of a coerced and false confession. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024 Johnson’s confession, a clip from an interview with Magic FM, is circulating on social media, with some interpreting her choice not to watch the movie as indifference. Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2024 Children are also three times more likely to make a false confession than adults. Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'confession.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near confession

Cite this Entry

“Confession.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confession. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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

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