Confession
/kənˈfɛʃən/
Definitions
2 meaningsA formal statement admitting to a crime, fault, or belief; the act of confessing.
/kənˈfɛʃən/
A formal statement admitting to a crime or wrongdoing.
The defendant made a full confession to the police.
💡 Simply: Imagine you did something wrong, like accidentally breaking a toy. A confession is when you tell the truth about it, even though it might be hard. For example, the boy made a confession in his classroom when he admitted that he drew on the desk.
👶 For kids: When you tell someone you did something wrong.
More Examples
Her confession of love surprised him.
He wrote a confession letter before turning himself in.
How It's Used
"The police obtained a confession from the suspect."
"The priest heard the woman's confession in the confessional."
A statement or declaration of belief, especially of religious faith.
/kənˈfɛʃən/
A statement of belief or faith.
The church requires a confession of faith.
💡 Simply: It's like sharing your core values. For example, at church, people may read a confession of faith, declaring their religious beliefs.
👶 For kids: Telling everyone what you believe.
More Examples
He read his confession to the congregation.
The group made a public confession of their beliefs.
How It's Used
"The group shared a public confession of their faith."
Idioms & expressions
to make a clean breast of something
To confess everything; to admit to a wrongdoing completely.
"After months of guilt, she decided to make a clean breast of everything to her parents."
a guilty conscience needs no accuser
Someone who knows they have done something wrong will often give themselves away.
"When he started to fidget and avoid eye contact, it was clear that a guilty conscience needed no accuser"
From Latin *confessio*, meaning "acknowledgment, admission, confession," derived from *confiteri*, "to confess," from *con-* (completely) + *fateri* (to admit, confess).
The word 'confession' has been used in legal and religious contexts for centuries, with its meaning remaining largely consistent.
Memory tip
Think of a courtroom scene where someone is admitting guilt.