penance

[pen-uhns]

noun

1. a punishment undergone in token of penitence for sin.

2. a penitential discipline imposed by church authority.

3. a sacrament, as in the Roman Catholic Church, consisting in a confession of sin, made with sorrow and with the intention of amendment, followed by the forgiveness of the sin.

penance

/ ˈpɛnəns /

noun

1. voluntary self-punishment to atone for a sin, crime, etc

2. a feeling of regret for one's wrongdoings

3. Christianity

   1. a punishment usually consisting of prayer, fasting, etc, undertaken voluntarily as an expression of penitence for sin

   2. a punishment of this kind imposed by church authority as a condition of absolution

verb

1. (tr) (of ecclesiastical authorities) to impose a penance upon (a sinner)

penance

1. Acts done to make up for sin. (See confession and indulgence.)

Other Word Forms

• penanceless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of penance¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English penaunce, from Anglo-French; Old French peneance, from Latin paenitentia penitence

Word History and Origins

Origin of penance¹

C13: via Old French from Latin paenitentia repentance; related to Latin poena penalty

Example Sentences

The new film is the director’s penance: an apologia to musical lovers who want to see the star do every inch of the dancing.

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In mitigation, Carruthers' barrister Andrew Gurney said the mechanic from Wigton would carry the burden of regret for his "stupid act" as a "personal penance" for the rest of his life.

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Condemning someone to starve, burn, freeze and ache for ages out of arrogance deserves a definitive “sorry” that should kick off a penance marathon.

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Pope Leo XIV is a notable fan of the Chicago White Sox, a penance for sins if ever there was one.

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Concluding that Didion left these pages behind so they would eventually take shape as the penance of an unreliable narrator is surely too tidy.

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Related Words

• absolution 
• atonement 
• contrition 
• forgiveness 
• penitence 
• remorse 
• repentance 
• retribution