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 biggest test could come on the second day of Hajj, when pilgrims gather for prayer and repentance at Mount Arafat, a granite hill and surrounding plains at the edge of Mecca.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 23, 2026
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
Eventually, Mary comes clean, and a bevy of local teens show up in court with their various stolen diner items in an act of mass repentance.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2024
The race is held the day before the start of Lent, the Christian period of repentance and sacrifice before Easter.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 13, 2024
It was a survival thing: he didn’t answer back, didn’t say anything about job security for prison guards, debate the nature of repentance, rehabilitation, or rates of recidivism.
From "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman
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.
