noun

penitence

pĕnʹĭ-təns

noun

Deep regret or remorse for having done something wrong.

"His penitence was clear from the tears in his eyes as he apologized."

"The monk spent years in quiet penitence after leaving his old life behind."

How to Use Penitence

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGenuine sorrow and regret for wrongdoing, often paired with a wish to make amends.

Common mistake

Penitence is the feeling of regret; penance is the act performed to show it (like a punishment or ritual).

Easily confused with

penance →

penitences plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

His _____ was clear from the tears in his eyes as he apologized.

From Old French penitence, from Latin paenitentia, "repentance" — from paenitēre, "to regret."

hence fence Pence whence thence Spence absence science silence defence essence Terence