penitent

1 of 2

adjective

pen·​i·​tent ˈpe-nə-tənt 

: feeling or expressing humble or regretful pain or sorrow for sins or offenses : repentant

penitently adverb

penitent

2 of 2

noun

1

: a person who repents of sin

2

: a person under church censure but admitted to penance or reconciliation especially under the direction of a confessor

Synonyms

Adjective

• apologetic
• compunctious
• contrite
• regretful
• remorseful
• repentant
• rueful
• sorry

Examples of penitent in a Sentence

Adjective

a penitent gossip who had come to ask for forgiveness

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But with Cash on the vocals, the song and the man singing are nearly penitent. —EW.com, 16 Nov. 2023

Eighteen years later, playing the beloved daughter of Al Pacino’s Michael, she is shot dead on the steps of the opera house in Palermo, taking a bullet meant for the belatedly penitent godfather, who now comprehends without any doubt that there is no escaping the sins of his or his relatives’ past. —Andrew Marzoni, The New Republic, 3 Nov. 2023

Noun

Serious sinners and penitents began a public penance on the first day of Lent. —Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 14 Feb. 2024

The elderly sage was cast as a doleful penitent, making up for youthful indiscretions. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French penitent, from Latin paenitent-, paenitens, from present participle of paenitēre to cause regret, feel regret, perhaps from paene almost

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

penitent

noun

: a person who repents or is doing penance