original sin
noun
1
: the state of sin that according to Christian theology characterizes all human beings as a result of Adam's fall
2
: a wrong of great magnitude
the original sin of slavery
Examples of original sin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For Borzage, the original sin of mankind—of male-kind, rather—is violence, and violence is inseparable from the ordinary run of daily activity at all levels of society.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2024
In their hands, America’s original sin is settled by the wishful effort to wash the nation clean.
—Eddie S. Glaude Jr., TIME, 15 Apr. 2024
In the Christian tradition, to be born in a state of original sin might offer someone the second chance of being saved, regardless of whether redemption is assumed to be a gift (of God), an achievement, or within a person’s grasp.
—Frederick Kaufman, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
Today this is often celebrated as the period when the nation finally triumphed over its original sin of slavery.
—Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
And its intractability deflected mainstream attention from the country’s original sin: slavery.
—Harold Holzer, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2024
And for Adam, the original sin of his parents’ untimely demise is what has kept him from having any chance for an emotional connection with anybody.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2023
Economists urged developing nations to borrow in their own currencies to erase the ‘original sin’ of dollar debt.
—Gabriele Steinhauser and Chelsey Dulaney, WSJ, 14 Dec. 2023
This is perhaps the original sin of Twi’lek design.
—Vulture, 11 Sep. 2023
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2024
In their hands, America’s original sin is settled by the wishful effort to wash the nation clean.
—Eddie S. Glaude Jr., TIME, 15 Apr. 2024
In the Christian tradition, to be born in a state of original sin might offer someone the second chance of being saved, regardless of whether redemption is assumed to be a gift (of God), an achievement, or within a person’s grasp.
—Frederick Kaufman, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024
Today this is often celebrated as the period when the nation finally triumphed over its original sin of slavery.
—Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
And its intractability deflected mainstream attention from the country’s original sin: slavery.
—Harold Holzer, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2024
And for Adam, the original sin of his parents’ untimely demise is what has kept him from having any chance for an emotional connection with anybody.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Dec. 2023
Economists urged developing nations to borrow in their own currencies to erase the ‘original sin’ of dollar debt.
—Gabriele Steinhauser and Chelsey Dulaney, WSJ, 14 Dec. 2023
This is perhaps the original sin of Twi’lek design.
—Vulture, 11 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'original sin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Original sin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/original%20sin. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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