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
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
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"The Hunger Games" Vocabulary from Chapter 1
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This Week in Words: January 6 - 12, 2018
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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.
“The Nation may be sick unto speedy death & past help,” he wrote as the proclamation went into effect in January 1863, “but if so, it’s last great Act is one of Repentance & Restitution.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026
Danya Ruttenberg, a feminist rabbi and author of “On Repentance And Repair,” said she was “absolutely grossed out” when she first heard that lyric.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2024
"Repentance is the word that's on my heart," she said near the start of the video.
From Salon • Aug. 11, 2022
Repentance is the act of recognizing, accepting and feeling remorse or contrition, making a commitment to change, and then ... changing.
From Washington Post • Jul. 13, 2021
Then out of habit I fired off the Repentance Psalm: Have mercy upon me, O God, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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.
