penance Definition and Meaning in English (penance definition)

noun
Quick Answer • Definition

Penance definition: Penance is an act of self-punishment or atonement for having done wrong, especially in a religious context.

Definitions of Penance

  1. 1noun

    Penance is an act of self-punishment or atonement for having done wrong, especially in a religious context.

  2. 2noun

    It can also refer to a sacrament in some Christian churches where a person confesses sins and receives absolution.

Example Sentences

formal

“He performed penance for his past mistakes.”

religious

“The priest assigned a penance to the sinner.”

general

“Many cultures have rituals of penance.”

Inflected Word Forms

adjectivepenitent
adjectivepenitential

Phrases & Idiomatic Expressions

do penancecollocation

To perform an act of self-punishment or atonement, often for religious reasons.

Frequently Asked Questions: Penance in English

What is the meaning of Penance in English?▼
Penance definition: Penance is an act of self-punishment or atonement for having done wrong, especially in a religious context.
How do you translate 'Penance' to English?▼
'Penance' translates to 'penance' in English. Penance definition: Penance is an act of self-punishment or atonement for having done wrong, especially in a religious context.
How do you pronounce 'Penance' and 'penance'?▼
Listen to clear English audio pronunciation of 'Penance' and native English audio speech for 'penance' with bilingual sentence examples on DictBridge.

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