penance

1 of 2

noun

pen·​ance ˈpe-nən(t)s 

1

: an act of self-abasement, mortification (see mortification sense 3), or devotion performed to show sorrow or repentance for sin

He did charitable work as a penance.

2

: a sacramental rite that is practiced in Roman, Eastern, and some Anglican churches and that consists of private confession, absolution, and a penance directed by the confessor (see confessor sense 3a)

3

: something (such as a hardship or penalty) resembling an act of penance (as in compensating for an offense)

… go on cheap camping trips instead of real vacations as a kind of penance.

—Judith Thurman

penance

2 of 2

verb

penanced; penancing

transitive verb

: to impose penance on

Did you know?

How Should You Use penance?

Penance as a form of apology for a mistake can be either voluntary or ordered by someone else. Many religions include penance among the ways in which believers can show repentance or regret for a misdeed. The Christian season of Lent, 40 days long, is traditionally a time for doing penance.

Examples of penance in a Sentence

Noun

He did charitable work as a penance.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As penance, Prager would run the center, live on the premises and personally tend to patients for years, until the last one had died or his sentence was up. —Jack Crosbie, Rolling Stone, 17 Mar. 2026

Their paths cross again when Cory accidentally hits Donny’s bicycle with his car and, as penance, agrees to drive him around town for a week to do errands. —Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 15 Mar. 2026

Christians are currently practicing Lent, a 40-day period during which participants practice reflection, prayer and penance, leading up to Easter Sunday. —Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Mar. 2026

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent, the 40 days of fasting and penance that lead to Easter Sunday. —Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin poenitentia penitence

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1580, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

penance

noun

pen·​ance

ˈpen-ən(t)s

1

: an act showing sorrow or regret for sin

2

: a sacrament consisting of regret for sin, confession to a priest, an act showing sorrow or regret ordered by the confessor, and forgiveness