[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/confession/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [C](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/c/) / confession # confession noun (a confession, confessions) «confession» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. A confession is when you admit that you did something wrong. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/confession/#m1) 2. (church) In some churches, confession is when a person tells their sins to God, often with a priest listening, and asks to be forgiven. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/confession/#m2) 3. (law) A confession is a statement in which a person says to the police or a court that they did a crime. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/confession/#m3) 4. A confession can also be telling a secret or a feeling you were shy about, like "I have a confession: I don't like cake." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/confession/#m4) ### In the lessons In stories a confession is a turning point: the hidden truth comes out, and the reader learns who did it and how they feel. In everyday life owning up is part of being honest, and adults often say the truth is better than being found out. In church life Catholics and Orthodox Christians go to confession (also called the sacrament of reconciliation); many Protestants confess to God in prayer. Phrases: make a confession, go to confession, a full confession, a signed confession, I have a confession to make. ### Examples - Tom made a confession to his mum about the broken vase. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/confession/#x1) - After a long silence, her confession came out in a rush: she had eaten the last biscuit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/confession/#x2) - On Saturday Gran goes to confession at the parish church. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/confession/#x3) - The priest listened to the confession and said a prayer of forgiveness. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/confession/#x4) - The police said the man had signed a confession. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/confession/#x5) - I have a confession to make: I never read the book. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/confession/#x6) - His confession made him feel lighter, as if a stone had been lifted. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/confession/#x7) - In the story, the thief's confession surprised the whole village. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/confession/#x8) - He went to the mill--he went to confession. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/confession/#x9) ### Note Countable noun: a confession, two confessions. Verb is confess (confessed). "Go to confession" has no "a". A confession under pressure may not be true, so courts check it. Not the same as an apology: a confession says what you did, an apology says you are sorry. ## In Jewish tradition Admitting sin to God in prayer, not to a priest, and giving thanks or praise. **Interpretation.** Confession (vidui) is key to repentance (teshuvah) in Jewish tradition, and is recited on Yom Kippur. ### Examples - Now therefore make confession unto the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.' (Writings EZR.10.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/confession/#x1) - And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made confession, and said: 'O Lord, the great and awful God, who keepest covenant and mercy with them that love Thee and keep Thy commandments, (Writings DAN.9.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/confession/#x2) - I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid; I said: 'I will make confession concerning my transgressions unto the LORD' — and Thou, Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. (Writings PSA.32.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/confession/#x3) ### Note Countable noun: a confession, two confessions. Verb is confess (confessed). "Go to confession" has no "a". A confession under pressure may not be true, so courts check it. Not the same as an apology: a confession says what you did, an apology says you are sorry. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «confession» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/confession/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«confession» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/confession.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «confession» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/C/confession/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«confession» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/confession.html) on Mova free.