sinner

American  

[sin-er] / ˈsɪn ər /

noun

• sinners
  plural

1. a person who sins; transgressor.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sinners
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sinner

A Middle English word dating back to 1275–1325; see origin at sin ¹, -er ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sinner sinners

At his worst, he was a sinner, like all of us.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

And “Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.”

From Salon ● Apr. 13, 2025

“I finally saw, like, ‘Oh, I’m a sinner by God’s standard,’ and then I understood my need for a savior and for Jesus,” she said.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 24, 2023

“If u want to send me in prison il accept it.... im sorry... i am a sinner to be punish.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2023

When I ask Isabel whether Mother Ermentrude believes me a sinner, she gives an indirect reply.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

A 1772 meditation about the crucifixion by a man who struggled with depression all his life, the hymn dwells on Christ’s gory death and evokes the metaphor of sinners bathing in blood.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 25, 2026

"Sinners" proves that Black history isn’t a sin and that teachers of Black history aren’t sinners.

From Salon ● Apr. 28, 2025

Perhaps out of a shared sense of guilt, Oppenheimer yearns to give these sinners a chance to atone for their mistakes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 6, 2024

A year before news of her husband’s affair became public, during an interview with a local radio show, Angela said, “The secret to a successful marriage is two sinners who are good, are forgiving.”

From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2023

“We’ve got the saints, the sinners and the savables,” she’d commented to Pastor George.

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine