confessional

1 of 2

noun

con·​fes·​sion·​al kən-ˈfesh-nəl 

-ˈfe-shə-nᵊl

1

: a place where a priest hears confessions

2

: the practice of confessing to a priest

confessional

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being a confession especially of faith

2

a

: intimately autobiographical

confessional fiction

b

: characterized by unguarded openness or self-revelation

We live in a confessional culture, provoked by social media and the internet and the warmth of the human impulse to share and … commiserate.

—Megan Garber

confessionalism

kən-ˈfesh-nə-ˌli-zəm 

-ˈfe-shə-nə-ˌli-

noun

confessionalist

kən-ˈfesh-nə-list 

-ˈfe-shə-nə-list

noun

confessionally

kən-ˈfesh-nə-lē 

-ˈfe-shə-nᵊl-

adverb

Examples of confessional in a Sentence

Adjective

confessional interviews of famous actors

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

What’s Next While more celebs are getting real about their procedures, there is still a long way to go before plastic surgery confessionals become mainstream conversation. —Brittany Talarico, People.com, 12 June 2025

On top of that, a cardinal repeating what he had been told during a confessional — as happens in the film — would likely lead to being excommunicated. —Nbc News, NBC news, 7 May 2025

Adjective

Haim is unusually good at pairing confessional lyrics with propulsive, playful rhythms, making unguarded music that also feels optimistic. —Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 18 June 2025

In the show’s April 15 premiere, Jax strives to justify his actions in a confessional interview. —Kate Aurthur, Variety, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably borrowed from French confessional (short for chaire confessionale, siège confessional, literally, "confessional seat"), noun derivative of confessional, adjective, "constituting or used for a confession," borrowed from Medieval Latin confessiōnālis, from Latin confessiōn-, confessiō confession + -ālis -al entry 1

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin confessiōnālis "constituting or used for a confession" — more at confessional entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1684, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for confessional

• compressional
• concessional
• congressional
• obsessional
• processional
• professional
• recessional
• successional
• interprofessional
• paraprofessional
• semiprofessional
• nonprofessional

Kids Definition

confessional

noun

con·​fes·​sion·​al

kən-ˈfesh-(ə-)nəl

1

: the enclosed place in which a priest sits and hears confessions

2

: the practice of confessing to a priest