confession

noun

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con·fes·sion | \ kən-ˈfe-shən

Definition of confession

1a : 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

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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 Again, Devlin was asked to transcribe Wright’s alleged confession as an attorney read it to him, and was only able to write one sentence, the grand jury wrote. — Washington Post, 14 Aug. 2021 Here, Gould’s air of inextricable irony, his sense of self-deprecating humor even in confession, serves ideally to turn David’s brazenness and audacity into a kind of childlike awkwardness—of a man quietly but dangerously out of control. — Richard Brod, The New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2021 Unearthed Josh Gates follows new evidence in the DB Cooper case that includes a deathbed confession and cutting-edge forensics. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2021 Prosecutors Lauren Plymale and Tyler Shoub said Donald’s taped confession and the video were sufficient evidence. — NBC News, 6 Aug. 2021 Kristen's late-night tussle with an imaginary Orson and her gut-wrenching breakdown and confession were challenging to shoot, and not just because of the heavy emotions at play. — Chancellor Agard, EW.com, 25 July 2021 After hearing that confession, the man contacted the sheriff's office the next day. — Jeff Truesdell, PEOPLE.com, 23 July 2021 The hospital president who made this confession was convicted of taking bribes from 2004 to 2017. — Ben Knight, Star Tribune, 20 July 2021 As close to an on-the-record confession from the assailant as one was likely to find. — Jessica M. Goldstein, The New Republic, 1 July 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'confession.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near confession

confessio fidei

confession

confessional

Statistics for confession

Last Updated

20 Aug 2021

Cite this Entry

“Confession.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confession. Accessed 25 Aug. 2021.

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More Definitions for confession

confession

noun

English Language Learners Definition of confession

: a written or spoken statement in which you say that you have done something wrong or committed a crime

: the act of telling people something that makes you embarrassed, ashamed, etc.

: the act of telling your sins to God or to a priest

See the full definition for confession in the English Language Learners Dictionary

confession

noun

con·fes·sion | \ kən-ˈfe-shən

Kids Definition of confession

1 : an act of telling of sins or wrong, illegal, or embarrassing acts

2 : a written or spoken admission of guilt of a crime

confession

noun

con·fes·sion

Legal Definition of confession

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.