confession - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
confession Word Meanings
- an act of admitting to wrongdoing
- a formal statement of guilt
- a religious practice of confessing sins
confession Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
confession Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/kənˈfɛʃ.ən/
US
/kənˈfɛʃ.ən/
confession Word Etymology
con- (together) + fateri (to admit) → Latin → Old French → English. Imagine someone confessing their sins in a church, kneeling with humility and sincerity.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I straighten my shoulders and push the words toward the open space, a confession landing in the room. With a slow breath, I hold the gaze of the listener and feel the truth shift in the air between us. It’s a small change inside, a decision to set aside fear and speak honestly. Then I let the silence answer, and I keep listening as the weight of the moment settles.
Real Context
Confession is a noun with several closely related meanings. It can refer to the act of admitting wrongdoing, an admission of guilt in a legal or personal sense, a formal statement of guilt in a courtroom or police report, or a religious practice of confessing sins. In everyday English, you often hear 'make a confession' or 'give a confession' in formal or ceremonial contexts, and 'confession' can appear in phrases like 'confession booth' or 'confession of guilt.' Learners frequently mix it up with an apology or with simply admitting something; teaching note: the sense changes with context, and the collocations shift between legal, religious, and personal language.
Usage Reminders
- Confession is usually countable: you can say 'a confession' or 'confessions'
- Differentiate legal/police uses from religious uses (a confession of guilt vs a confession of sins)
- Common verbs: make a confession, confess to someone, confess something
- Don’t use confession to mean a simple apology in most contexts
- Pronunciation: con-FESS-ion; past tense: made a confession; past participle: confessed
Common Misconceptions
- Confession always means guilt in a legal sense.
- It only refers to religious acts of telling sins.
- A confession is the same as an apology.
- You must confess to someone directly; 'confession' alone is not common.
- People say 'confession' with the incorrect verb form (to confession).
Thinking Differences
In English, confession spans legal, personal, and religious senses. Learners often map all uses to a religious or moral frame, or assume it always implies guilt. Pay attention to context: legal talks use 'confession of guilt' and often accompany it with verbs like 'make' or 'give'; religious uses lean on sins and acts of penitence; everyday talk may simply refer to admitting something.
Learning Tips
- Learn the main collocations: make a confession, confession of guilt, confession in church
- Keep straight the noun vs the verb: confession (noun) vs confess (verb)
- Different contexts require different nouns: guilt, sins, admission
- Practice past forms: made a confession, confessed
- Differentiate apology vs confession in secular contexts
- Pronounce: con-FESS-ion; stress on the second syllable
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'confession'?
A.A secret
B.A celebration
C.An admission
D.A journey
Step 2: Usage
In which sentence is the word 'confession' used correctly?
A.He received a confession that he was hungry.
B.She made a confession that she loved dancing.
C.They confessed to go to the park.
D.I confessed her secret to my friend.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is a synonym of 'confession'?
A.Denial
B.Fabrication
C.Concealment
D.Revelation
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite meaning of 'confession'?
A.Acknowledgment
B.Declaration
C.Publicity
D.Concealment
Step 5: Mastery
How is the word 'confession' commonly used in real life?
A.During happy occasions for sharing joy
B.In religious settings for admitting sins
C.In legal matters for making false statements
D.In science experiments for measuring outcomes
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
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