noun
Uncommon
penance
PEHN-uhns
Penance (noun) means a voluntary act of self-punishment or atonement carried out to make up for wrongdoing. Example: “He did penance for years, quietly trying to make amends.”
noun
1
A voluntary act of self-punishment or atonement carried out to make up for wrongdoing.
"He did penance for years, quietly trying to make amends."
2
In some Christian traditions, a religious ritual of confession, repentance, and reparation.
"The priest assigned her a set of prayers as penance."
How to use penance
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn act taken to make up for having done wrong, often used in a religious sense.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
do penance
penance for one's sins
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Word forms
- Plural
- penances
- Third person singular
- penances
- Past tense
- penanced
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He did _____ for years, quietly trying to make amends.
Etymology
From Old French peneance, from Latin paenitentia ("repentance"); a close relative of the word "penitence."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for penance
See all rhymes for penance →Frequently asked questions
What does “penance” mean?
The word “penance” means a voluntary act of self-punishment or atonement carried out to make up for wrongdoing. In plain terms, an act taken to make up for having done wrong, often used in a religious sense.
How do you pronounce “penance”?
“Penance” is pronounced PEHN-uhns (/ˈpɛn.əns/ in IPA).
How do you use “penance” in a sentence?
Here is “penance” used in a sentence: “He did penance for years, quietly trying to make amends.”
What is another word for “penance”?
Words with a similar meaning to “penance” include penitence and atonement.
What part of speech is “penance”?
“Penance” is a noun.
Where does the word “penance” come from?
The word “penance” comes from Latin. From Old French peneance, from Latin paenitentia ("repentance"); a close relative of the word "penitence.".
Is “penance” a common word?
“Penance” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “penance” have?
“Penance” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a voluntary act of self-punishment or atonement carried out to make up for wrongdoing.
