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noun

confessor

kuhn-FEH-suh

Confessor (noun) means a priest who hears people's confessions and grants absolution. Example: “The old monk served as confessor to the whole village.”

noun
1
A priest who hears people's confessions and grants absolution.
"The old monk served as confessor to the whole village."
2
Someone who admits to something, or who acts as a trusted listener for others' secrets.
"She became the office confessor, hearing everyone's complaints."

How to use confessor

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA person who hears confessions — literally a priest, or more loosely, anyone people confide in.

Word forms

confessors plural

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The old monk served as _____ to the whole village.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman confessour, from Latin cōnfessor, related to cōnfiteor ("to confess").

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for confessor

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Frequently asked questions

What does “confessor” mean?

The word “confessor” means a priest who hears people's confessions and grants absolution. In plain terms, a person who hears confessions — literally a priest, or more loosely, anyone people confide in.

How do you pronounce “confessor”?

“Confessor” is pronounced kuhn-FEH-suh (/kənˈfɛsɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “confessor” in a sentence?

Here is “confessor” used in a sentence: “The old monk served as confessor to the whole village.”

What part of speech is “confessor”?

“Confessor” is a noun.

Where does the word “confessor” come from?

The word “confessor” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman confessour, from Latin cōnfessor, related to cōnfiteor ("to confess").

How many meanings does “confessor” have?

“Confessor” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a priest who hears people's confessions and grants absolution.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial