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

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Etymology

Origin of sinner

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sinner sinners

The author’s ill-matched father and mother are saints; his stepmother, Raine Spencer, a sinner.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

"The 1851 memoir, by contrast, was a spiritual redemption story, with Byfield tracing his progress from rebellious sinner to devout and repentant Christian."

From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026

Scorsese’s faith, and his battles with it, provide something of a leitmotif of the series — is he a saint or a sinner?

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2025

Neither of them had some road-to-Damascus moment that turned the sinner into a saint.

From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2023

“Because I cannot name him, therefore all would think me a liar, a sinner trying to hide her shame,” I explain.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

He ate with tax collectors, sinners and outcasts.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

In my view, there’s no contradiction because wearing ashes in public, unlike righteous acts of giving alms, fasting and praying in public, is a sign that we are sinners and in need of repentance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 16, 2026

Francis always denounced such ploys, saying that Communion was not a reward for perfect behavior but a kind of spiritual nourishment for everyone, including sinners.

From Slate ● Oct. 2, 2025

But the best twist is when you realize how much you’ve come to care about these characters, be they saints or sinners or a bit of both.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2025

Pray for us poor sinners, from now until the hour of our death.

From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat

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