penance
/ˈpɛnəns/
noun
- Voluntary punishment or suffering that a person accepts to show they are sorry for something wrong they have done, especially in a religious context.
- She saw the long, boring assignment as penance for skipping class.
- In some traditions, believers perform acts of penance during Lent.
- As penance for breaking the window, he had to mow the neighbor's lawn all summer.
- A sacrament in some Christian churches involving confession, repentance, and absolution by a priest.
- The priest explained the importance of penance in the Catholic faith.
- He went to confession and received the sacrament of penance.
- After the service, many parishioners stayed for penance.
Synonyms
Antonyms
verb
- To impose or perform an act of penance on oneself or another.
- She decided to penance her mistakes by volunteering at the shelter.
- The community penanced the wrongdoer with a public apology.
- The monk would penance himself by fasting for three days.