con
fe
ssion
Plural
confessions
1
an acknowledgment of having committed a wrong, shameful, or embarrassing act
A confession is a personal account where an individual reveals private or significant details about their life, actions, or experiences. This genre often involves the author admitting to past mistakes, misdeeds, or personal struggles, and it provides an intimate look into their thoughts and motivations. Confessions can cover a wide range of topics, including personal guilt, transformative experiences, or revelations about one's behavior. The goal is to offer an honest and sometimes raw perspective on the author's life or actions.
- She made a confession about lying to her friend.
- The teacher encouraged a confession after the cheating incident.
- His confession of jealousy surprised everyone.
- I owe you a confession—I accidentally broke your vase.
- In a rare confession, he admitted to being afraid of heights.
2
a formal statement made by a person admitting that they are guilty of a crime
- The suspect's confession led to his arrest and subsequent trial.
- The detective obtained a signed confession from the perpetrator during interrogation.
- The judge accepted the confession as evidence in the courtroom.
- The priest provided spiritual guidance to the prisoner after hearing his confession.
- The confession was pivotal in solving the cold case that had baffled investigators for years.
3
(in Roman Catholic Church) the act of a penitent revealing sins to a priest to receive absolution
- She went to confession every week.
- Confession allows the faithful to seek forgiveness.
- The priest listened carefully during confession.
- After confession, he felt spiritually renewed.
- Confession is one of the seven sacraments in Catholicism.
4
an open statement declaring one's religious beliefs or convictions
- He made a public confession of his faith at the ceremony.
- The church emphasizes confession of belief as part of membership.
- Confession of faith can be a powerful personal statement.
- The preacher encouraged confession of faith among the congregation.
- Her confession before the council inspired others.
5
a formal written statement outlining the doctrines or beliefs of a church, especially in 16th-century Reformation contexts
- The Augsburg Confession defined Lutheran doctrine.
- The church published its confession to clarify beliefs.
- Confession documents were widely circulated during the Reformation.
- The Westminster Confession is central to Presbyterian theology.
- Scholars study confessions to understand historical beliefs.