repentance
Americannoun
-
deep sorrow, compunction, or contrition for a past sin, wrongdoing, or the like.
- Synonyms:
- remorse, penitence, contriteness
- Antonyms:
- impenitence
-
regret for any past action.
- Synonyms:
- sorrow
noun
-
remorse or contrition for one's past actions or sins
-
an act or the process of being repentant; penitence
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of repentance
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English repentaunce, from Old French repentance; equivalent to repent 1 + -ance
Explanation
Repentance is the guilt you feel when you do something wrong — and the steps you take to make up for it, like a sincere apology: repentance for hurting your friend's feelings. Repentance is the act of repenting, which comes from the Latin word poenitire, meaning “make sorry.” Note however, that repentance is what you do on your own: it's not punishment that is handed to you. In terms of religion, repentance is the decision to try to sin no more, devoting your life instead to being a better person by strictly following the rules of your faith.
Vocabulary lists containing repentance
The Poet X
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: January 6 - 12, 2018
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This insight reminds me of a Lenten devotional piece by Jesuit Rick Ganz, who discloses what motivates repentance.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026
So that ashen cross proves an appropriate start to Lent’s season of repentance: a time to get things right in your life.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026
"As Christians, we know that we are people who need repentance and hope."
From BBC • May 4, 2025
In the meantime, this aggressively revisionist supermarket, as indicated in Butler’s novel, has become part pharmacy, part a site of repentance for past consumption.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2024
I spent most of my time in a state of repentance for things I had vividly desired to do but had not done.
From "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
