Standard Lemma guide

penitence

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • pĕnʹĭ-təns

1

noun

Meaning 1

The condition of being penitent; a feeling of regret or remorse for doing wrong or sinning.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

remorse for your past conduct

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: repentance, penance

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: compunction, remorse, self-reproach

History

Etymology

First attested circa 13th century, from Middle English penitence, from Old French penitence, from Latin paenitentia (“repentance, penitence”), from paenitēns (“penitent”), present active participle of paeniteō (“regret, repent”). Equivalent to penitent + -ence. Doublet of penance.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: разкаяние (razkajanie) — condition of being penitent
  • Dutch: boetedoening — condition of being penitent
  • Dutch: inkeer — condition of being penitent
  • Finnish: katumus — condition of being penitent
  • Old French: penitence — condition of being penitent
  • Galician: penitencia — condition of being penitent
  • German: Reue — condition of being penitent
  • German: Bußfertigkeit — condition of being penitent
  • German: Buße — condition of being penitent
  • Indonesian: penitensi — condition of being penitent
  • Irish: aithrí — condition of being penitent
  • Portuguese: contrição — condition of being penitent
  • Portuguese: penitência — condition of being penitent
  • Slovak: ľútosť — condition of being penitent
  • Slovak: pokánie — condition of being penitent
  • Slovak: kajúcnosť — condition of being penitent
  • Spanish: penitencia — condition of being penitent