flagellant

/ˈflædʒələnt/
noun
  1. A person who whips themselves or others as a form of religious punishment or discipline.
    • Museums sometimes display tools used by flagellants during religious ceremonies.
    • In medieval times, some flagellants walked through towns whipping themselves to show repentance.
    • The historical novel described a group of flagellants who believed their suffering would bring forgiveness.
Synonyms