confession

noun

con·​fes·​sion kən-ˈfe-shən 

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

Synonyms

• acknowledgment
• acknowledgement
• admission
• avowal
• concession
• self-confession

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

In the first episode, Carmichael confessed to having a crush on his longtime friend, Tyler, the Creator (who later laughed off his confession and declined his invite to the 2022 Emmys). —Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2024

The website is a simple, ad-free blog with a black background, the 4x6 rectangular confessions emerging from the darkness like faces illuminated around a campfire. —Hazlitt, 3 Apr. 2024

Historically, investigators have been taught aggressive, coercive strategies aimed at one primary goal: obtaining a confession, whether true or false. —Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2024

Gayles tells James’ story with a foundation of traditional documentary elements, including interviews with James’ father, mother and sister, as well as his fiancée, and conversations/confessions/recollections from James delivered with the tinny audio of a prison telephone system. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024

Authorities call it a confession, but his attorney says his client isn't guilty. —Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 30 Mar. 2024

Thank you for rocking with me through every lyric, every beat, and every confession. —Lindsay Kimble, Peoplemag, 24 Mar. 2024

Odeh’s supporters say Israel tortured her into a false confession. —Simone Weichselbaum, NBC News, 20 Mar. 2024

Leaning toward the camera during a recent video chat, DiFranco sums up her vibe with a hushed confession. —Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024

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

Phrases Containing confession

• self-confession

Kids Definition

confession

noun

con·​fes·​sion kən-ˈfesh-ən 

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.