fess

¹ American  

[fes] / fɛs /

Or fesse

noun

Heraldry.

1. an ordinary in the form of a broad horizontal band across the middle of an escutcheon.

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fess ² American  

[fes] / fɛs /

verb phrase

1. fess up to admit or concede, especially freely.

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fess ³ American  

[fes] / fɛs /

Also fessor

noun

Chiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.

1. a teacher.

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fess British  

/ fɛs /

verb

1. informal to make a confession

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Etymology

Origin of fess¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English fes(se), veece, fesshe, from Old French, ultimately from Latin fascia fascia

Origin of fess²

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; shortening of confess

Origin of fess³

First recorded in 1905–10; shortening of professor

Example Sentences

The SNP MSP told reporters: "I will freely fess up to things I've done but I will not apologise for things I've not done."

From BBC • Sep. 18, 2025

Those who refused were sent to an administrator’s office to call their parents and fess up to breaking the rule.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 2, 2024

Officers — like everyone — have a Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and can’t be forced to fess up to potential misconduct just to have those statements later used against them in a criminal case.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 8, 2023

Despite his repeated attempts to coax Rackstraw to fess up, Colbert was ultimately unsuccessful as Rackstraw continued to deny, deny and deny.

From Salon • Jul. 18, 2022

I guessed I’d better fess up about the diviner, since that cat was out of the bag anyway.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool