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

By the time kids are asking directly, “Is Santa really real, or are you actually the one bringing the present?” it’s probably time to fess up, Mills said.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 20, 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

“No, really. It’s fine. Just fess up already.”

From "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley